FPF - Internet Samizdat

Blood money: 'Philanthropist' Soros buys 1.9 million more Halliburton shares

2007-02-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

This site which is owned by the group running Google etc. is doing its utmost to block me from publishing on my own log.

It's like a f,,,,,,g thought police straight from Orwell when he was sick.

The censorship has gone so far that the Blogger people do not answer emails for help anymore. Decency seems to be dead there too. It's not only the brains and morals.

Anyhow: the alternative blog (beta) is here at Url.: http://forpressfound.weblogs.cz/

Today's item:

Blood money: 'Philanthropist' Soros buys 1.9 million more Halliburton shares
Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
Who ever heard of a billionaire who made money in an honest way? According to Reuters stock market info, 'philanthropist' Soros yesterday - and being perfectly well informed about all war crimes and the millions of dead human beings making the inhuman Halliburton corruption and profit possible - bought 1.9 million more shares of the globally infamous Halliburton corporation.

US: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI HIRES CIA-SOROS ACTIVIST

by Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF - Febr. 15th 2007 - About Soros and his machinations an article is written by Rev. Sheldon, who is ''a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained minister, and the founder of the Traditional Values Coalition in Washington, DC.'' The Reverend however, seems to be blind on at least one eye though: within the smoke-and-mirror circus there is no 'left' nor 'right. The group fighting for hegemony of course also uses the 'divide and rule' tactic.

And there is absolutely NO difference whatsoever between Republicans or Democrats in the US: those corrupt politicians nearly all voted for wars and fascism, using faked slogans to keep people divided and easily ruled. Those groups just create some 'opposition' to make operations more 'reality' like. Like the US junta in areas they want for their resources etc. creates disasters which they then say they will 'solve'. They'll 'liberate' anybody anywhere of the last pennies and when seen as useful also 'liberate' them of their lives. The group doing this is not human but a bunch of money-making psychopaths and serial undertakers. - [http://www.serendipity.li/bush/beyond_insanity.htm]

The same goes for the role played by George Soros' collaborator and his 'cover' the 'Open Society Institute': Director of U.S. Advocacy Morton Halperin, who wants the power for the Soros group, and not for what he claims to be ''the other CIA.'' Soros also represents the group of warlords in London but tries to give his actions a benevolent façade by doling out some of the by him at any price gathered money. As such he is presented in the propaganda by the massmedia they own, and to uninformed people he's thus 'sold' as a philanthropist.

BUYING HALLIBURTON TOO: SOROS IS A WAR PROFITEER

Confirming again that in the group of warlords steering the US and its Washington junta's war machine, there's only lust for power and profit. Human beings do not count. Halliburton may be one of the worst corrupted corporations on earth: the group doesn't care, nor does Soros. [http://tinyurl.com/3yrk4h] - Of the people reading this, 99.9% - like you and me - is seen as a source of income. Living in what we think are 'countries' but what they see as 'production units'. And when we have to be killed for profit we are just 'collateral damage'.

If you read this first you'll see the connections: Billionaire and crooked old CIA hand Soros - Who is he?
Url.: http://www.oilempire.us/soros.html

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI HIRES GEORGE (CIA) SOROS ACTIVIST

Part of the misery is pointed out by the one-eyed Reverend Bresciani in his article concerning the fact that the group's new Speaker of the House, the nefarious Nancy Pelosi - who also is a multi millionaire - hired a Soros collaborator as an aide and consigliere. It's from a logical point of view understandable: the group - like the captain on the USS Titanic - just keeps the course as Bush says and steams on until their own steamroller will flatten them.

Anyhow, this is what the reverend wrote yesterday, while Soros was buying another 1.9 million Halliburton shares: "Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has recently hired Joseph Onek to be her Senior Counsel. Most people have never heard of Onek before, but he was an operative in both the Carter and Clinton White House. While in the Carter Administration, Onek served as Deputy Counsel to Jimmy Carter. In the Clinton Administration, Onek was a deputy Associate Attorney General and was the Rule of Law Coordinator with the State Department.

Onek also served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan and served as an Assistant Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But his more recent work as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Open Society Institute (OSI) should be of deep concern to all Americans. The Open Society Institute is a creation of billionaire atheist George Soros. This virulently anti-Christian man operates what some have called a "shadow government in America" - a network of groups and radical individuals who wish to control America's social and national security policies. - [They do already - HR]

Discoverthenetworks.org monitors the web of leftist organizations that seek to rule our nation. It describes this shadow government as being "conceived and organized principally by George Soros, Hillary Clinton and Harold McEwan Ickes - all identified with the Democratic Party left."?

SOROS FUNNELS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

The OSI funnels millions of dollars into various leftist causes, including euthanasia, open borders, abortion, homosexual activism, marijuana legalization, the undermining of our nation's war on terrorism and other neo-Marxist visions of social justice. A list of OSI's grantees (posted on the discoverthenetworks.org web site) reads like a phone book of every anti-American, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual group in America.

Soros has a warped vision for America, and he's pouring millions of dollars into public policy organizations that will push his agendas. He is also pouring money into elections. He spent $26 million to defeat Bush in 2004. Today, Soros has decided that Senator Barack Obama should be our next president and has anointed him for that purpose. He will provide Obama with funding plus whatever publicity he can generate for the senator through his various front groups.

SOROS EITHER FUNDS OR OPERATES A WHOLE RANGE OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE IS HIS FLAGSHIP ORGANIZATION.

The current president of OSI is Aryeh Neier, who as director of the socialist League for Industrial Democracy, founded the radical Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) back in 1959. OSI's Director of U.S. Advocacy is Morton Halperin, a man who has devoted his entire life to subverting America's intelligence efforts to fight domestic and international threats. Halperin is a former Carter and Clinton official who has consistently attacked the work of the CIA.

George Soros must be pleased to have one of his operatives a heartbeat away from Speaker of the House Pelosi. Did Onek get his job with Pelosi through the influence of Soros? Was Onek placed in her office to direct policy decisions? What role does Onek play in Soros' shadow government?

But, more to the point: What role does Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi play in George Soros' shadow government?

Americans deserve answers to these questions.

Rev. Sheldon is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained minister, and the founder of the Traditional Values Coalition in Washington, DC.

[andend] - Story Url.: http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21264224.shtml

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* BILLIONAIRE AND CROOKED OLD CIA HAND SOROS - Google selection: Soros-CIA-News - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/4uzo7

* GOOGLE "JOSEPH ONEK" +SOROS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yusvxe

* SOROS YESTERDAY AGAIN ADDED 1.9 MILLION SHARES OF HALLIBURTON (HAL.N: Quote, Profile , Research) - REUTERS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2rpsmx

* SOROS & HALLIBURTON GOOGLE SELECTION - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/39vf2c

* NO WONDER THE WORD SOROS REMINDS OF THE YIDDISH WORD 'SORES' - Meaning: 'trouble, worries' (tsores or tsoro) 'adversity' and 'suffering'. - Url.: http://homepage.mac.com/schuffelen/duhebrew.html

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* DOES 'THE CROWN' OWE YOU TOO? - Url.: http://theuniversalseduction.com/articles/how-the-crown-rules-the-world

* THE EVIL EMPIRE REVISITED - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/hcrg7

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

*SELLING SOROS AND HIS GROUP TOO: THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Putin claims the US junta tries dominating our world

2007-02-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Blogger is owned by Google, Yahoo etc. which like all other big US search machines under different names are a very important part of the US junta's war and propaganda machine. So I had to get another blog: http://forpressfound.weblogs.cz/

Like I said: I've had huge problems with this ''Blogger'' because they're doing everything to make critical voices and people go away and disappear in their miserable 'Memory hole'. Blogger people never answer letters with civilized questions or when someone is asking for help or explanations. But here's another one:

FPF-fwd. Putin's Munich speech
You better read it, because this is your world too.

Whatever one may think: Vladimir Putin the present President of Russia in Munich in his speech said what billions of people around the world feel and say.

As a senior foreign correspondent I have seen a couple of wars in East and West and have no illusions concerning Mr. Putin, but I in this case fully agree in what he observes and says concerning the enormous crimes against us all - humanity - by the United States' managers and their warring junta. They are wrecking our planet, and in their madness slowly forcing us to commit global suicide. - [http://tinyurl.com/u6ccs]

The US junta's unipolar policy and war machine - including collaborators in NATO and other malignant mercenaries - must be stopped before they kill us all.

They must be stopped by any and all means. - HR

And you better read it, because this is your world too.

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Germany - Munich - February 11, 2007

Speech at the Munich Conference on Security Policy

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you very much dear Madam Federal Chancellor, Mr Teltschik, ladies and gentlemen!

I am truly grateful to be invited to such a representative conference that has assembled politicians, military officials, entrepreneurs and experts from more than 40 nations.

This conference’s structure allows me to avoid excessive politeness and the need to speak in roundabout, pleasant but empty diplomatic terms. This conference’s format will allow me to say what I really think about international security problems. And if my comments seem unduly polemical, pointed or inexact to our colleagues, then I would ask you not to get angry with me. After all, this is only a conference. And I hope that after the first two or three minutes of my speech Mr Teltschik will not turn on the red light over there.

Therefore. It is well known that international security comprises much more than issues relating to military and political stability. It involves the stability of the global economy, overcoming poverty, economic security and developing a dialogue between civilisations.
This universal, indivisible character of security is expressed as the basic principle that “security for one is security for all”. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said during the first few days that the Second World War was breaking out: “When peace has been broken anywhere, the peace of all countries everywhere is in danger.”

These words remain topical today. Incidentally, the theme of our conference – global crises, global responsibility – exemplifies this.

Only two decades ago the world was ideologically and economically divided and it was the huge strategic potential of two superpowers that ensured global security.

This global stand-off pushed the sharpest economic and social problems to the margins of the international community’s and the world’s agenda. And, just like any war, the Cold War left us with live ammunition, figuratively speaking. I am referring to ideological stereotypes, double standards and other typical aspects of Cold War bloc thinking.

The unipolar world that had been proposed after the Cold War did not take place either.

The history of humanity certainly has gone through unipolar periods and seen aspirations to world supremacy. And what hasn’t happened in world history?

However, what is a unipolar world? However one might embellish this term, at the end of the day it refers to one type of situation, namely one centre of authority, one centre of force, one centre of decision-making.

It is world in which there is one master, one sovereign. And at the end of the day this is pernicious not only for all those within this system, but also for the sovereign itself because it destroys itself from within.

And this certainly has nothing in common with democracy. Because, as you know, democracy is the power of the majority in light of the interests and opinions of the minority.

Incidentally, Russia – we – are constantly being taught about democracy. But for some reason those who teach us do not want to learn themselves.

I consider that the unipolar model is not only unacceptable but also impossible in today’s world. And this is not only because if there was individual leadership in today’s – and precisely in today’s – world, then the military, political and economic resources would not suffice. What is even more important is that the model itself is flawed because at its basis there is and can be no moral foundations for modern civilisation.

Along with this, what is happening in today’s world – and we just started to discuss this – is a tentative to introduce precisely this concept into international affairs, the concept of a unipolar world.
And with which results?

Unilateral and frequently illegitimate actions have not resolved any problems. Moreover, they have caused new human tragedies and created new centres of tension. Judge for yourselves: wars as well as local and regional conflicts have not diminished. Mr Teltschik mentioned this very gently. And no less people perish in these conflicts – even more are dying than before.

Significantly more, significantly more!

Today we are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper use of force – military force – in international relations, force that is plunging the world into an abyss of permanent conflicts. As a result we do not have sufficient strength to find a comprehensive solution to any one of these conflicts. Finding a political settlement also becomes impossible.

We are seeing a greater and greater disdain for the basic principles of international law. And independent legal norms are, as a matter of fact, coming increasingly closer to one state’s legal system. One state and, of course, first and foremost the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way. This is visible in the economic, political, cultural and educational policies it imposes on other nations. Well, who likes this? Who is happy about this?

In international relations we increasingly see the desire to resolve a given question according to so-called issues of political expediency, based on the current political climate.

And of course this is extremely dangerous. It results in the fact that no one feels safe. I want to emphasise this – no one feels safe! Because no one can feel that international law is like a stone wall that will protect them. Of course such a policy stimulates an arms race.
The force’s dominance inevitably encourages a number of countries to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, significantly new threats – though they were also well-known before – have appeared, and today threats such as terrorism have taken on a global character.

I am convinced that we have reached that decisive moment when we must seriously think about the architecture of global security.

And we must proceed by searching for a reasonable balance between the interests of all participants in the international dialogue. Especially since the international landscape is so varied and changes so quickly – changes in light of the dynamic development in a whole number of countries and regions.

Madam Federal Chancellor already mentioned this. The combined GDP measured in purchasing power parity of countries such as India and China is already greater than that of the United States. And a similar calculation with the GDP of the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – surpasses the cumulative GDP of the EU. And according to experts this gap will only increase in the future.

There is no reason to doubt that the economic potential of the new centres of global economic growth will inevitably be converted into political influence and will strengthen multipolarity.

In connection with this the role of multilateral diplomacy is significantly increasing. The need for principles such as openness, transparency and predictability in politics is uncontested and the use of force should be a really exceptional measure, comparable to using the death penalty in the judicial systems of certain states.

However, today we are witnessing the opposite tendency, namely a situation in which countries that forbid the death penalty even for murderers and other, dangerous criminals are airily participating in military operations that are difficult to consider legitimate. And as a matter of fact, these conflicts are killing people – hundreds and thousands of civilians!

But at the same time the question arises of whether we should be indifferent and aloof to various internal conflicts inside countries, to authoritarian regimes, to tyrants, and to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? As a matter of fact, this was also at the centre of the question that our dear colleague Mr Lieberman asked the Federal Chancellor. If I correctly understood your question (addressing Mr Lieberman), then of course it is a serious one! Can we be indifferent observers in view of what is happening? I will try to answer your question as well: of course not.

But do we have the means to counter these threats? Certainly we do. It is sufficient to look at recent history. Did not our country have a peaceful transition to democracy? Indeed, we witnessed a peaceful transformation of the Soviet regime – a peaceful transformation! And what a regime! With what a number of weapons, including nuclear weapons! Why should we start bombing and shooting now at every available opportunity? Is it the case when without the threat of mutual destruction we do not have enough political culture, respect for democratic values and for the law?

I am convinced that the only mechanism that can make decisions about using military force as a last resort is the Charter of the United Nations. And in connection with this, either I did not understand what our colleague, the Italian Defence Minister, just said or what he said was inexact. In any case, I understood that the use of force can only be legitimate when the decision is taken by NATO, the EU, or the UN. If he really does think so, then we have different points of view. Or I didn’t hear correctly. The use of force can only be considered legitimate if the decision is sanctioned by the UN.

And we do not need to substitute NATO or the EU for the UN. When the UN will truly unite the forces of the international community and can really react to events in various countries, when we will leave behind this disdain for international law, then the situation will be able to change. Otherwise the situation will simply result in a dead end, and the number of serious mistakes will be multiplied. Along with this, it is necessary to make sure that international law have a universal character both in the conception and application of its norms.

And one must not forget that democratic political actions necessarily go along with discussion and a laborious decision-making process.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

The potential danger of the destabilisation of international relations is connected with obvious stagnation in the disarmament issue.
Russia supports the renewal of dialogue on this important question.

It is important to conserve the international legal framework relating to weapons destruction and therefore ensure continuity in the process of reducing nuclear weapons.

Together with the United States of America we agreed to reduce our nuclear strategic missile capabilities to up to 1700-2000 nuclear warheads by 31 December 2012. Russia intends to strictly fulfil the obligations it has taken on. We hope that our partners will also act in a transparent way and will refrain from laying aside a couple of hundred superfluous nuclear warheads for a rainy day. And if today the new American Defence Minister declares that the United States will not hide these superfluous weapons in warehouse or, as one might say, under a pillow or under the blanket, then I suggest that we all rise and greet this declaration standing. It would be a very important declaration.

Russia strictly adheres to and intends to further adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as well as the multilateral supervision regime for missile technologies. The principles incorporated in these documents are universal ones.
In connection with this I would like to recall that in the 1980s the USSR and the United States signed an agreement on destroying a whole range of small- and medium-range missiles but these documents do not have a universal character.

Today many other countries have these missiles, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, India, Iran, Pakistan and Israel. Many countries are working on these systems and plan to incorporate them as part of their weapons arsenals.

And only the United States and Russia bear the responsibility to not create such weapons systems.
It is obvious that in these conditions we must think about ensuring our own security.

At the same time, it is impossible to sanction the appearance of new, destabilising high-tech weapons.

[FPF-US claims space - http://tinyurl.com/2u7sdw]

Needless to say it refers to measures to prevent a new area of confrontation, especially in outer space. Star wars is no longer a fantasy – it is a reality. In the middle of the 1980s our American partners were already able to intercept their own satellite.

In Russia’s opinion, the militarisation of outer space could have unpredictable consequences for the international community, and provoke nothing less than the beginning of a nuclear era. And we have come forward more than once with initiatives designed to prevent the use of weapons in outer space.

Today I would like to tell you that we have prepared a project for an agreement on the prevention of deploying weapons in outer space. And in the near future it will be sent to our partners as an official proposal. Let’s work on this together.

Plans to expand certain elements of the anti-missile defence system to Europe cannot help but disturb us. Who needs the next step of what would be, in this case, an inevitable arms race? I deeply doubt that Europeans themselves do.

Missile weapons with a range of about five to eight thousand kilometres that really pose a threat to Europe do not exist in any of the so-called problem countries.

And in the near future and prospects, this will not happen and is not even foreseeable. And any hypothetical launch of, for example, a North Korean rocket to American territory through western Europe obviously contradicts the laws of ballistics. As we say in Russia, it would be like using the right hand to reach the left ear.

And here in Germany I cannot help but mention the pitiable condition of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

The Adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was signed in 1999. It took into account a new geopolitical reality, namely the elimination of the Warsaw bloc. Seven years have passed and only four states have ratified this document, including the Russian Federation.

NATO countries openly declared that they will not ratify this treaty, including the provisions on flank restrictions (on deploying a certain number of armed forces in the flank zones), until Russia removed its military bases from Georgia and Moldova. Our army is leaving Georgia, even according to an accelerated schedule.

We resolved the problems we had with our Georgian colleagues, as everybody knows. There are still 1,500 servicemen in Moldova that are carrying out peacekeeping operations and protecting warehouses with ammunition left over from Soviet times. We constantly discuss this issue with Mr Solana and he knows our position. We are ready to further work in this direction.

But what is happening at the same time?

Simultaneously the so-called flexible frontline American bases with up to five thousand men in each. It turns out that NATO has put its frontline forces on our borders, and we continue to strictly fulfil the treaty obligations and do not react to these actions at all.

I think it is obvious that NATO expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the Alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. And we have the right to ask: against whom is this expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them. But I will allow myself to remind this audience what was said. I would like to quote the speech of NATO General Secretary Mr Woerner in Brussels on 17 May 1990. He said at the time that: “the fact that we are ready not to place a NATO army outside of German territory gives the Soviet Union a firm security guarantee”. Where are these guarantees?

The stones and concrete blocks of the Berlin Wall have long been distributed as souvenirs. But we should not forget that the fall of the Berlin Wall was possible thanks to a historic choice – one that was also made by our people, the people of Russia – a choice in favour of democracy, freedom, openness and a sincere partnership with all the members of the big European family.

And now they are trying to impose new dividing lines and walls on us – these walls may be virtual but they are nevertheless dividing, ones that cut through our continent. And is it possible that we will once again require many years and decades, as well as several generations of politicians, to dissemble and dismantle these new walls?

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

We are unequivocally in favour of strengthening the regime of non-proliferation. The present international legal principles allow us to develop technologies to manufacture nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. And many countries with all good reasons want to create their own nuclear energy as a basis for their energy independence. But we also understand that these technologies can be quickly transformed into nuclear weapons.

This creates serious international tensions. The situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme acts as a clear example. And if the international community does not find a reasonable solution for resolving this conflict of interests, the world will continue to suffer similar, destabilising crises because there are more threshold countries than simply Iran.

We both know this. We are going to constantly fight against the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Last year Russia put forward the initiative to establish international centres for the enrichment of uranium. We are open to the possibility that such centres not only be created in Russia, but also in other countries where there is a legitimate basis for using civil nuclear energy. Countries that want to develop their nuclear energy could guarantee that they will receive fuel through direct participation in these centres. And the centres would, of course, operate under strict IAEA supervision.

The latest initiatives put forward by American President George W. Bush are in conformity with the Russian proposals. I consider that Russia and the USA are objectively and equally interested in strengthening the regime of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their deployment. It is precisely our countries, with leading nuclear and missile capabilities, that must act as leaders in developing new, stricter non-proliferation measures. Russia is ready for such work. We are engaged in consultations with our American friends.

In general, we should talk about establishing a whole system of political incentives and economic stimuli whereby it would not be in states’ interests to establish their own capabilities in the nuclear fuel cycle but they would still have the opportunity to develop nuclear energy and strengthen their energy capabilities.

In connection with this I shall talk about international energy cooperation in more detail. Madam Federal Chancellor also spoke about this briefly – she mentioned, touched on this theme. In the energy sector Russia intends to create uniform market principles and transparent conditions for all. It is obvious that energy prices must be determined by the market instead of being the subject of political speculation, economic pressure or blackmail.

We are open to cooperation. Foreign companies participate in all our major energy projects. According to different estimates, up to 26 percent of the oil extraction in Russia – and please think about this figure – up to 26 percent of the oil extraction in Russia is done by foreign capital. Try, try to find me a similar example where Russian business participates extensively in key economic sectors in western countries. Such examples do not exist! There are no such examples.

I would also recall the parity of foreign investments in Russia and those Russia makes abroad. The parity is about fifteen to one. And here you have an obvious example of the openness and stability of the Russian economy.

Economic security is the sector in which all must adhere to uniform principles. We are ready to compete fairly.

For that reason more and more opportunities are appearing in the Russian economy. Experts and our western partners are objectively evaluating these changes. As such, Russia’s OECD sovereign credit rating improved and Russia passed from the fourth to the third group. And today in Munich I would like to use this occasion to thank our German colleagues for their help in the above decision.

Furthermore. As you know, the process of Russia joining the WTO has reached its final stages. I would point out that during long, difficult talks we heard words about freedom of speech, free trade, and equal possibilities more than once but, for some reason, exclusively in reference to the Russian market.

And there is still one more important theme that directly affects global security. Today many talk about the struggle against poverty. What is actually happening in this sphere? On the one hand, financial resources are allocated for programmes to help the world’s poorest countries – and at times substantial financial resources. But to be honest -- and many here also know this – linked with the development of that same donor country’s companies. And on the other hand, developed countries simultaneously keep their agricultural subsidies and limit some countries’ access to high-tech products.

And let’s say things as they are – one hand distributes charitable help and the other hand not only preserves economic backwardness but also reaps the profits thereof. The increasing social tension in depressed regions inevitably results in the growth of radicalism, extremism, feeds terrorism and local conflicts. And if all this happens in, shall we say, a region such as the Middle East where there is increasingly the sense that the world at large is unfair, then there is the risk of global destabilisation.

It is obvious that the world’s leading countries should see this threat. And that they should therefore build a more democratic, fairer system of global economic relations, a system that would give everyone the chance and the possibility to develop.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, speaking at the Conference on Security Policy, it is impossible not to mention the activities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As is well-known, this organisation was created to examine all – I shall emphasise this – all aspects of security: military, political, economic, humanitarian and, especially, the relations between these spheres.

What do we see happening today? We see that this balance is clearly destroyed. People are trying to transform the OSCE into a vulgar instrument designed to promote the foreign policy interests of one or a group of countries. And this task is also being accomplished by the OSCE’s bureaucratic apparatus which is absolutely not connected with the state founders in any way. Decision-making procedures and the involvement of so-called non-governmental organisations are tailored for this task. These organisations are formally independent but they are purposefully financed and therefore under control.

According to the founding documents, in the humanitarian sphere the OSCE is designed to assist country members in observing international human rights norms at their request. This is an important task.

We support this. But this does not mean interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and especially not imposing a regime that determines how these states should live and develop.

It is obvious that such interference does not promote the development of democratic states at all. On the contrary, it makes them dependent and, as a consequence, politically and economically unstable.
We expect that the OSCE be guided by its primary tasks and build relations with sovereign states based on respect, trust and transparency.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

In conclusion I would like to note the following. We very often – and personally, I very often – hear appeals by our partners, including our European partners, to the effect that Russia should play an increasingly active role in world affairs.

In connection with this I would allow myself to make one small remark. It is hardly necessary to incite us to do so. Russia is a country with a history that spans more than a thousand years and has practically always used the privilege to carry out an independent foreign policy.

We are not going to change this tradition today. At the same time, we are well aware of how the world has changed and we have a realistic sense of our own opportunities and potential. And of course we would like to interact with responsible and independent partners with whom we could work together in constructing a fair and democratic world order that would ensure security and prosperity not only for a select few, but for all.

Thank you for your attention.

(V. Putin - President of Russia)

Fwd. by:

Foreign Press Foundation

Pls don't forget the new blog: http://forpressfound.weblogs.cz/

Google - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j

HR

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Empire v. Democracy: Why Nemesis Is at Our Door

2007-02-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

FPF-fwd. Chalmers Johnson and Tom Engelhardt

Since there have been numerous difficulties with this blog FPF - Internet Samizdat, the articles also are published on another blog at Url.: http://forpressfound.weblogs.cz/

EMPIRE V. DEMOCRACY: WHY NEMESIS IS AT OUR DOOR

by Chalmers Johnson and Tom Engelhardt - February 1, 2007

The dream of the Bush administration – eternal global domination abroad with no other superpower or bloc of powers on the military horizon and a Republican Party dominant at home for at least a generation – long ago evaporated in Iraq. A midterm election and subsequent devastating polling figures tell the tale. The days when neocons, their supporters, and attending pundits talked about the US as the "new Rome" of planet Earth now seem to exist on the other side of some Startrekkian wormhole.

And yet the imperial damage remains everywhere around us. Give the Bush administration credit. They moved the goalposts. They created the sort of dystopian imperial reality (as well as a mess of future-busting proportions) that a generation of relative sanity might not be able to fully reverse. The facts on the ground – the vastness of the Pentagon, the power of the military-industrial complex, the inept but already bloated Homeland Security Department (and the vast security interests coalescing around it), the staggering alphabet (or acronym) soup of the "Intelligence Community" – all of this militates against real change, which is why we need Chalmers Johnson.

Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic, the final volume of his Blowback trilogy, is about to storm your local bookstore (and can be pre-ordered at Amazon now). It is a reminder of just how far we've moved from the sort of democratic America that the president is always holding up as a model to the rest of the world. As with Blowback and The Sorrows of Empire before it, Nemesis, Johnson's grand, if grim, conclusion to our American tragedy, is simply a must-read. While you're waiting for the book to arrive in your hands, you can get a little preview of its themes below. ~ Tom

Empire v. Democracy: Why Nemesis Is at Our Door

by Chalmers Johnson

History tells us that one of the most unstable political combinations is a country – like the United States today – that tries to be a domestic democracy and a foreign imperialist. Why this is so can be a very abstract subject. Perhaps the best way to offer my thoughts on this is to say a few words about my new book, Nemesis, and explain why I gave it the subtitle, "The Last Days of the American Republic." Nemesis is the third book to have grown out of my research over the past eight years. I never set out to write a trilogy on our increasingly endangered democracy, but as I kept stumbling on ever more evidence of the legacy of the imperialist pressures we put on many other countries as well as the nature and size of our military empire, one book led to another.

Professionally, I am a specialist in the history and politics of East Asia. In 2000, I published Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, because my research on China, Japan, and the two Koreas persuaded me that our policies there would have serious future consequences. The book was noticed at the time, but only after 9/11 did the CIA term I adapted for the title – "blowback" – become a household word and my volume a bestseller.

I had set out to explain how exactly our government came to be so hated around the world. As a CIA term of tradecraft, "blowback" does not just mean retaliation for things our government has done to, and in, foreign countries. It refers specifically to retaliation for illegal operations carried out abroad that were kept totally secret from the American public. These operations have included the clandestine overthrow of governments various administrations did not like, the training of foreign militaries in the techniques of state terrorism, the rigging of elections in foreign countries, interference with the economic viability of countries that seemed to threaten the interests of influential American corporations, as well as the torture or assassination of selected foreigners. The fact that these actions were, at least originally, secret meant that when retaliation does come – as it did so spectacularly on September 11, 2001 – the American public is incapable of putting the events in context. Not surprisingly, then, Americans tend to support speedy acts of revenge intended to punish the actual, or alleged, perpetrators. These moments of lashing out, of course, only prepare the ground for yet another cycle of blowback.

A WORLD OF BASES

As a continuation of my own analytical odyssey, I then began doing research on the network of 737 American military bases we maintained around the world (according to the Pentagon's own 2005 official inventory). Not including the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, we now station over half a million US troops, spies, contractors, dependents, and others on military bases located in more than 130 countries, many of them presided over by dictatorial regimes that have given their citizens no say in the decision to let us in.

As but one striking example of imperial basing policy: For the past sixty-one years, the US military has garrisoned the small Japanese island of Okinawa with 37 bases. Smaller than Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, Okinawa is home to 1.3 million people who live cheek-by-jowl with 17,000 Marines of the 3rd Marine Division and the largest US installation in East Asia – Kadena Air Force Base. There have been many Okinawan protests against the rapes, crimes, accidents, and pollution caused by this sort of concentration of American troops and weaponry, but so far the US military – in collusion with the Japanese government – has ignored them. My research into our base world resulted in The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic, written during the run-up to the Iraq invasion.

As our occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq turned into major fiascoes, discrediting our military leadership, ruining our public finances, and bringing death and destruction to hundreds of thousands of civilians in those countries, I continued to ponder the issue of empire. In these years, it became ever clearer that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their supporters were claiming, and actively assuming, powers specifically denied to a president by our Constitution. It became no less clear that Congress had almost completely abdicated its responsibilities to balance the power of the executive branch. Despite the Democratic sweep in the 2006 election, it remains to be seen whether these tendencies can, in the long run, be controlled, let alone reversed.

Until the 2004 presidential election, ordinary citizens of the United States could at least claim that our foreign policy, including our illegal invasion of Iraq, was the work of George Bush's administration and that we had not put him in office. After all, in 2000, Bush lost the popular vote and was appointed president thanks to the intervention of the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision. But in November 2004, regardless of claims about voter fraud, Bush actually won the popular vote by over 3.5 million ballots, making his regime and his wars ours.

Whether Americans intended it or not, we are now seen around the world as approving the torture of captives at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, at Bagram Air Base in Kabul, at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and at a global network of secret CIA prisons, as well as having endorsed Bush's claim that, as commander-in-chief in "wartime," he is beyond all constraints of the Constitution or international law. We are now saddled with a rigged economy based on record-setting trade and fiscal deficits, the most secretive and intrusive government in our country's memory, and the pursuit of "preventive" war as a basis for foreign policy. Don't forget as well the potential epidemic of nuclear proliferation as other nations attempt to adjust to and defend themselves against Bush's preventive wars, while our own already staggering nuclear arsenal expands toward first-strike primacy and we expend unimaginable billions on futuristic ideas for warfare in outer space.

THE CHOICE AHEAD

By the time I came to write Nemesis, I no longer doubted that maintaining our empire abroad required resources and commitments that would inevitably undercut, or simply skirt, what was left of our domestic democracy and that might, in the end, produce a military dictatorship or – far more likely – its civilian equivalent. The combination of huge standing armies, almost continuous wars, an ever growing economic dependence on the military-industrial complex and the making of weaponry, and ruinous military expenses as well as a vast, bloated "defense" budget, not to speak of the creation of a whole second Defense Department (known as the Department of Homeland Security) has been destroying our republican structure of governing in favor of an imperial presidency. By republican structure, of course, I mean the separation of powers and the elaborate checks and balances that the founders of our country wrote into the Constitution as the main bulwarks against dictatorship and tyranny, which they greatly feared.

We are on the brink of losing our democracy for the sake of keeping our empire. Once a nation starts down that path, the dynamics that apply to all empires come into play – isolation, overstretch, the uniting of local and global forces opposed to imperialism, and in the end bankruptcy.

History is instructive on this dilemma. If we choose to keep our empire, as the Roman republic did, we will certainly lose our democracy and grimly await the eventual blowback that imperialism generates. There is an alternative, however. We could, like the British Empire after World War II, keep our democracy by giving up our empire. The British did not do a particularly brilliant job of liquidating their empire and there were several clear cases where British imperialists defied their nation's commitment to democracy in order to hang on to foreign privileges. The war against the Kikuyu in Kenya in the 1950s and the Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956 are particularly savage examples of that. But the overall thrust of postwar British history is clear: the people of the British Isles chose democracy over imperialism.

In her book The Origins of Totalitarianism, the political philosopher Hannah Arendt offered the following summary of British imperialism and its fate:

"On the whole it was a failure because of the dichotomy between the nation-state's legal principles and the methods needed to oppress other people permanently. This failure was neither necessary nor due to ignorance or incompetence. British imperialists knew very well that 'administrative massacres' could keep India in bondage, but they also knew that public opinion at home would not stand for such measures. Imperialism could have been a success if the nation-state had been willing to pay the price, to commit suicide and transform itself into a tyranny. It is one of the glories of Europe, and especially of Great Britain, that she preferred to liquidate the empire."

[I DISAGREE WITH CHALMERS JOHNSON AND HANNAH ARENDT: GREAT BRITAIN - 'THE CITY' GROUP - NEVER 'LIQUIDATED' THE EMPIRE. THE GROUP JUST CHANGED NAME BUT NOT GOAL NOR TACTICS. - HR]

I agree with this judgment. When one looks at Prime Minister Tony Blair's unnecessary and futile support of Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq, one can only conclude that it was an atavistic response, that it represented a British longing to relive the glories – and cruelties – of a past that should have been ancient history.

As a form of government, imperialism does not seek or require the consent of the governed. It is a pure form of tyranny. The American attempt to combine domestic democracy with such tyrannical control over foreigners is hopelessly contradictory and hypocritical. A country can be democratic or it can be imperialistic, but it cannot be both.

THE ROAD TO IMPERIAL BANKRUPTCY

The American political system failed to prevent this combination from developing – and may now be incapable of correcting it. The evidence strongly suggests that the legislative and judicial branches of our government have become so servile in the presence of the imperial Presidency that they have largely lost the ability to respond in a principled and independent manner. Even in the present moment of congressional stirring, there seems to be a deep sense of helplessness. Various members of Congress have already attempted to explain how the one clear power they retain – to cut off funds for a disastrous program – is not one they are currently prepared to use.

So the question becomes, if not Congress, could the people themselves restore Constitutional government? A grassroots movement to abolish secret government, to bring the CIA and other illegal spying operations and private armies out of the closet of imperial power and into the light, to break the hold of the military-industrial complex, and to establish genuine public financing of elections may be at least theoretically conceivable. But given the conglomerate control of our mass media and the difficulties of mobilizing our large and diverse population, such an opting for popular democracy, as we remember it from our past, seems unlikely.

It is possible that, at some future moment, the US military could actually take over the government and declare a dictatorship (though its commanders would undoubtedly find a gentler, more user-friendly name for it). That is, after all, how the Roman republic ended – by being turned over to a populist general, Julius Caesar, who had just been declared dictator for life. After his assassination and a short interregnum, it was his grandnephew Octavian who succeeded him and became the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar. The American military is unlikely to go that route. But one cannot ignore the fact that professional military officers seem to have played a considerable role in getting rid of their civilian overlord, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The new directors of the CIA, its main internal branches, the National Security Agency, and many other key organs of the "defense establishment" are now military (or ex-military) officers, strongly suggesting that the military does not need to take over the government in order to control it. Meanwhile, the all-volunteer army has emerged as an ever more separate institution in our society, its profile less and less like that of the general populace.

REACT TO A MOVE TOWARD OPEN MILITARY DICTATORSHIP

Nonetheless, military coups, however decorous, are not part of the American tradition, nor that of the officer corps, which might well worry about how the citizenry would react to a move toward open military dictatorship. Moreover, prosecutions of low-level military torturers from Abu Ghraib prison and killers of civilians in Iraq have demonstrated to enlisted troops that obedience to illegal orders can result in dire punishment in a situation where those of higher rank go free. No one knows whether ordinary soldiers, even from what is no longer in any normal sense a citizen army, would obey clearly illegal orders to oust an elected government or whether the officer corps would ever have sufficient confidence to issue such orders. In addition, the present system already offers the military high command so much – in funds, prestige, and future employment via the famed "revolving door" of the military-industrial complex – that a perilous transition to anything like direct military rule would make little sense under reasonably normal conditions.

Whatever future developments may prove to be, my best guess is that the US will continue to maintain a façade of Constitutional government and drift along until financial bankruptcy overtakes it. Of course, bankruptcy will not mean the literal end of the US any more than it did for Germany in 1923, China in 1948, or Argentina in 2001-2002. It might, in fact, open the way for an unexpected restoration of the American system – or for military rule, revolution, or simply some new development we cannot yet imagine.

Certainly, such a bankruptcy would mean a drastic lowering of our standard of living, a further loss of control over international affairs, a sudden need to adjust to the rise of other powers, including China and India, and a further discrediting of the notion that the United States is somehow exceptional compared to other nations. We will have to learn what it means to be a far poorer country – and the attitudes and manners that go with it. As Anatol Lieven, author of America Right or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism, observes:

"US GLOBAL POWER, AS PRESENTLY CONCEIVED BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE US ESTABLISHMENT, IS UNSUSTAINABLE. . .

The empire can no longer raise enough taxes or soldiers, it is increasingly indebted, and key vassal states are no longer reliable. . . The result is that the empire can no longer pay for enough of the professional troops it needs to fulfill its self-assumed imperial tasks."

In February 2006, the Bush administration submitted to Congress a $439 billion defense appropriation budget for fiscal year 2007. As the country enters 2007, the administration is about to present a nearly $100 billion supplementary request to Congress just for the Iraq and Afghan wars. At the same time, the deficit in the country's current account – the imbalance in the trading of goods and services as well as the shortfall in all other cross-border payments from interest income and rents to dividends and profits on direct investments – underwent its fastest ever quarterly deterioration. For 2005, the current account deficit was $805 billion, 6.4% of national income. In 2005, the US trade deficit, the largest component of the current account deficit, soared to an all-time high of $725.8 billion, the fourth consecutive year that America's trade debts set records. The trade deficit with China alone rose to $201.6 billion, the highest imbalance ever recorded with any country. Meanwhile, since mid-2000, the country has lost nearly three million manufacturing jobs.

To try to cope with these imbalances, on March 16, 2006, Congress raised the national debt limit from $8.2 trillion to $8.96 trillion. This was the fourth time since George W. Bush took office that it had to be raised. The national debt is the total amount owed by the government and should not be confused with the federal budget deficit, the annual amount by which federal spending exceeds revenue. Had Congress not raised the debt limit, the US government would not have been able to borrow more money and would have had to default on its massive debts.

Among the creditors that finance these unprecedented sums, the two largest are the central banks of China (with $853.7 billion in reserves) and Japan (with $831.58 billion in reserves), both of which are the managers of the huge trade surpluses these countries enjoy with the United States. This helps explain why our debt burden has not yet triggered what standard economic theory would dictate: a steep decline in the value of the US dollar followed by a severe contraction of the American economy when we found we could no longer afford the foreign goods we like so much. So far, both the Chinese and Japanese governments continue to be willing to be paid in dollars in order to sustain American purchases of their exports.

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

For the sake of their own domestic employment, both countries lend huge amounts to the American treasury, but there is no guarantee of how long they will want to, or be able to do so. Marshall Auerback, an international financial strategist, says we have become a "Blanche Dubois economy" (so named after the leading character in the Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire) heavily dependent on "the kindness of strangers." Unfortunately, in our case, as in Blanche's, there are ever fewer strangers willing to support our illusions.

So my own hope is that – if the American people do not find a way to choose democracy over empire – at least our imperial venture will end not with a nuclear bang but a financial whimper. From the present vantage point, it certainly seems a daunting challenge for any president (or Congress) from either party even to begin the task of dismantling the military-industrial complex, ending the pall of "national security" secrecy and the "black budgets" that make public oversight of what our government does impossible, and bringing the president's secret army, the CIA, under democratic control. It's evident that Nemesis – in Greek mythology the goddess of vengeance, the punisher of hubris and arrogance – is already a visitor in our country, simply biding her time before she makes her presence known.

2007 Chalmers Johnson - Url.: http://www.antiwar.com/engelhardt/?articleid=10439

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WHICH GROUP WHERE HAS THE POWER? AND WHY?

FPF/HR: Like a beautiful woman missing an eye, in good articles like the one above many times writers abstain from the advice to 'Follow the Money' and thus the main and very important question is missing:

WHO PROFITS?

If one looks at the world the way this group of managers sees it, who for ages have been using wars and power to enlarge their empire, the world and the workers are just one big production unit. It's a factory, a real animal farm...

There's tons of evidence to proof for instance that 'Great Britain' never gave up it's empire, as Chalmers Johnson and Hannah Arendt write. The business tycoons from 'The City' of London just transformed the whole a bit and kept their empire intact under new names. - HR

THE RULING OF THE EMPIRE IS MOSTLY DONE FROM 'THE CITY' IN LONDON - Url.: http://forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/07/evil-empire-revisited.html

THE PROFITS ARE VIA THEIR PRIVATE 'BANK OF ENGLAND' RECYCLED AT THE 'BIS' their Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland. There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

*US FASCISM: ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - (Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither. - Benjamin Franklin) - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* TURNING THE US OF AMERICA INTO THE LAND OF THE FEE AND THE HOME OF THE KNAVE. DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE IN OUR WORLD. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* AL QAEDA IS THE PRETEXT 'MADE IN THE USA' FOR THE US JUNTA'S 'WAR OF TERROR' - Url.: http://www.globalecho.org/print_view.php?aid=6034

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* PRINTING DOLLARS - THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST SCAM EVER IN HUMAN HISTORY: 'THE FED' - 'Responsible' only to the 'Bank of International Settlements' (BIS - see above) in Switzerland - Url.: http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/FEDERALRESERVE.HTML

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

* BBC IN ARABIC? US PROPAGANDA: R.I.P. AL JAZEERA - DAVID FROST 'FRONT MAN' AT AL-JAZEERA INTERNATIONAL - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6us8n

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* MORE LINKS & BACKGROUND LINKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - If after checking a factual error is found, pls. send an email so it can be corrected. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/fhln9

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which even a crook like French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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We the People Are the Deciders, Not Bush and his Congress

2007-02-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

FPF-fwd. Jim Kirwan

HR: Personally I too regret that Molly Ivins - who was a very good journalist/reporter - has died. - Url.: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&ct=title&q=%22Molly+Ivins%22&btnG=Search

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We the People Are the Deciders, Not Bush and his Congress

By Jim Kirwan

Al-Jazeerah, February 2, 2007

Contrary to what Bush continues to claim, neither he nor the Congress or the courts are the Deciders – we the people hold the ultimate power, over who decides what in the United States!

The chess pieces on the board of government are only appointed or elected officials, and so long as they fulfill the needs and desires of the citizens in this land, they serve us: When that changes drastically as it has since the last elections, then consequences must follow.

The ship of state has become a rusting and sinking luxury vessel riddled with holes: rudderless and captain-less we now float on a sea of corruption and lies. The turbulent waters where that ship is adrift had their corrupt beginnings in the fifty years of war against the Palestinians in the Middle East. The failure by this government to hold Israel accountable for her crimes against those people, and now against the entire Arab world; is the source that generates so much of the hatred and death both ‘over there’ and ‘over here.’ (1)

Congress has more than played a part in keeping these duplicitous policies in force. Having voted, in this first month for the National I.D. Card* that restricts the travel, the privacy and the freedom of all Americans: and for giving Social Security to people-without-papers, while striking down a requirement that would have made English the national language of this country—this is tantamount to the French, not speaking French, or the Spanish not speaking Spanish in their own countries: The public may soon begin to wonder whose country this really is—ours or whichever flavor-of-the-month needs to be courted by Washington? (1)

Today, the Congress is still watering down another version of a non-binding gesture that they want to send to Bush—instead of something that would obligate the Dictator to “own the wars” he started, and get out of Iraq now. Instead of listening to either the voters in November or to the new so-called Congress—the self-professed ‘decider’ has chosen to not only add troops in Iraq, but he is stepping up his efforts to provoke yet another phony war: this time with Iran. He obviously thinks he is secure in blasting his way through his own permanently failed diplomatic gestures, while his thugs continue to churn out the same tired lies and innuendos that he and his criminal cabal generated to get into Iraq in the first place.

The self-appointed one has forgotten that he took an oath to protect and defend Americans first: an oath that would include keeping his promises on Katrina, making sure that Americans had jobs and that their retirements would be protected from government’s unending appetite to steal their benefits that they earned over a lifetime of work. Not-to-mention, a fair and affordable way to obtain medical care (not just access to insurance); a believable education for our children, not just a bunch of slogans with no money that are turning American youth into idiots with no past, no present possibilities, and especially no future! What the hell is going on in this nation—have we no say in anything that this so-called government is doing in any area of our lives?

PEOPLE HERE, JUST LIKE PEOPLE ALMOST EVERYWHERE ELSE ARE ENTITLED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES FREE FROM THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE THAT EACH OF US MUST NAVIGATE THROUGH – JUST “TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY”!

These things may seem small individually, but collectively they comprise the destruction of the Republic and the end of a way of life! This government obviously sees all of this from exactly the opposite position: some even see this as the birth pangs of a glorious New Empire. But when the celebrations end and reality returns; it appears that all that has been accomplished is the selling of America to the blood-lust of AIPAC, and to the New World Order—as only the latest burnt-offering of yet another failed state to bolster their grip on the rest of the world. “Entitlements” are one thing, but the theft of this democracy, this way of life, and of this form of government are not things that any nation worth the name can tolerate for long. (2)

It’s not surprising that they’ve gotten as far as they have—because so many prefer not to know what’s happening now, or what really happened in the immediate past that created this monstrous nightmare in the first place. But from here on in things must change: or the temporary wounds they’ve inflicted on the limbs of this “democracy” shall soon become gangrenous and need to be amputated. (3)

This is not only about us this is about the survival of the planet. Thanks to our pre-occupations with ourselves alone, we have allowed the global environment to be added to the endangered list. We have only watched while language itself has been turned inside out: so that now war is seen as peace and “lies” are now construed to be “truth.” The very names of government agencies have been upended, to rape and plunder the environment under the aegis of The Environmental Protection Agency. Or in Health and Human Services (HHS), which has become the arbiter over the death and denial of human services to most of those who have the courage to darken their doors.

Under this government’s privatization of even government itself, as well as the military: Great strides have been made - huge strides to add to what they’ve already destroyed while they’ve pocketed the spoils from so many previous ventures into their meticulous dissection of the Prison System, the Educational system, and the Insurance Industries – all privatized for extreme profits to the few, at the expense of everything that these areas of life were created to serve. The head of the Justice System recently was asked to explain torture, and the US use of that, in front of a Senate committee – they got no answer at all, from Gonzalez. There is virtually no area of this nation that is currently functioning for the benefit of ordinary citizens: Why is the public still not enraged?

THE MEDIA IS AS COMPLICIT

Of course the public can cite the excuse that: “Hey - nobody told me!” That might have worked, had there not been so many alternative ways to find out exactly what is going on. The media is as complicit if not more so in trying to continue to hide what’s really going on: So many half-told stories, so many half-hearted or incomplete investigations that take a back seat to gossip & games, not to mention all the outright lies. The compact between this government and the people of this nation requires the involvement of the people at all levels—and the government has seen to it that its control over the population is so damned complicated and overarching that it becomes virtually impossible to fight them on all the garbage they continue to shove down our throats daily.

This tactic needs to be fought in another way, because this is not just about money or health, or the environment or the WARS: this is about the very survival of each and every one of us. We need to return to the basics of what is right and what is obviously just more from the “GREED is GOOD” crowd left over from the Reagan years. The US public’s opinions and needs are not represented in government or by government; but are instead twisted by lobbyists and thieves to become “for the criminal government’s designs” regardless of how these decisions will affect those of us that make government possible. This policy has to be stopped!

The infrastructure of this nation is in total disrepair, and there are no jobs that pay a decent wage. The government, if it were a functioning institution, could create programs that could employ virtually all the unemployed in rebuilding the infrastructure of America—by putting everyone back to work on rebuilding this nation: instead of selling off our freeways to foreign governments and letting everything else just go to hell. The same kind of ‘rescue’ could be and SHOULD BE taking place in New Orleans but instead we are told to “just go shopping”! Again: Where’s the OUTRAGE? The USA is spending $8.7 Billion dollars a month in Iraq, and that’s only what we know about. Fraud is running like an unchecked flood through the secretly appropriated funds, at last count nearly $40 Billion was misspent, and no one is even being charged with a crime, what would happen to you or me - if we misspent $40 Billion dollars of the government’s money?

PERHAPS MOLLY IVINS SAID IT BEST IN HER FINAL COLUMN TODAY:

“We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise Hell… We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding “Stop it, now.”

JIM KIRWAN

Home page - Url.: http://www.kirwanesque.com/

Email: kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net

1) Time to Remove the Parasitic War-loving Zionist Bankster Brain - Url.: http://www.rense.com/general75/znst.htm

2) American Needs Pain - Url.: http://www.rense.com/general75/americ.htm

3) An Iron Curtain is Descending and Most Americans Don’t Know - Url.: http://www.ichblog.eu:80/content/view/202/52/

4) Jim Webb’s Barnburner - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2yfj92

[andend] - Jim Kirwan's article is at al Jazeera - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yo68ub

FPF - RELATED LINKS:

* ELECTRONIC CONTROL IS SLAVE TRADE - Url.: http://www.salars.net/wordpress/2006/12/20/electronic-control-is-slave-trade/

*US FASCISM: ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - (Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither. - Benjamin Franklin) - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* TURNING THE US OF AMERICA INTO THE LAND OF THE FEE AND THE HOME OF THE KNAVE. DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE IN OUR WORLD. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state. - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* MORE LINKS & BACKGROUND LINKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - If after checking any factual error is found, pls. send an email so it can be corrected. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/fhln9

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which even a crook like French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

John Pilger - Iran: The War Begins + Open letter

2007-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Asked about a US Senate resolution disapproving of the "surge" of US troops to Iraq, Vice-President Cheney said: "It won't stop us." Last November, a majority of the American electorate voted for the Democratic Party to control Congress and stop the war in Iraq.

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US NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD: Legal And Human Rights Groups Issue Open Letter Warning Of Illegality Of Any Offensive Military Action By U.S. Against Iran - Url.: http://www.nlg.org/news/statements/Military_Iran_2007.htm

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JOHN PILGER: IRAN: THE WAR BEGINS

"AHMADINEJAD DID NOT CALL FOR ISRAEL TO BE "WIPED OFF THE MAP"

By John Pilger

ICH - Saturday, 03 February 2007 - As opposition grows in America to the failed Iraq adventure, the Bush administration is preparing public opinion for an attack on Iran, its latest target, by the spring.

The United States is planning what will be a catastrophic attack on Iran. For the Bush cabal, the attack will be a way of "buying time" for its disaster in Iraq. In announcing what he called a "surge" of American troops in Iraq, George W Bush identified Iran as his real target. "We will interrupt the flow of support [to the insurgency in Iraq] from Iran and Syria," he said. "And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."

"NETWORKS" MEANS IRAN.

"There is solid evidence," said a State Department spokesman on 24 January, "that Iranian agents are involved in these networks and that they are working with individuals and groups in Iraq and are being sent there by the Iranian government." Like Bush's and Tony Blair's claim that they had irrefutable evidence that Saddam Hussein was deploying weapons of mass destruction, the "evidence" lacks all credibility. Iran has a natural affinity with the Shia majority of Iraq, and has been implacably opposed to al-Qaeda, condemning the 9/11 attacks and supporting the United States in Afghanistan. Syria has done the same. Investigations by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and others, including British military officials, have concluded that Iran is not engaged in the cross-border supply of weapons.

GENERAL PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN OF THE US JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, HAS SAID NO SUCH EVIDENCE EXISTS.

AS THE AMERICAN DISASTER IN IRAQ DEEPENS

As the American disaster in Iraq deepens and domestic and foreign opposition grows, "neo-con" fanatics such as Vice-President Dick Cheney believe their opportunity to control Iran's oil will pass unless they act no later than the spring. For public consumption, there are potent myths. In concert with Israel and Washington's Zionist and fundamentalist Christian lobbies, the Bushites say their "strategy" is to end Iran's nuclear threat.

In fact, Iran possesses not a single nuclear weapon, nor has it ever threatened to build one; the CIA estimates that, even given the political will, Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon before 2017, at the earliest.* Unlike Israel and the United States, Iran has abided by the rules of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, of which it was an original signatory, and has allowed routine inspections under its legal obligations - until gratuitous, punitive measures were added in 2003, at the behest of Washington. No report by the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever cited Iran for diverting its civilian nuclear programme to military use.*

The IAEA has said that for most of the past three years its inspectors have been able to "go anywhere and see anything".* They inspected the nuclear installations at Isfahan and Natanz on 10 and 12 January and will return on 2 to 6 February. The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, says that an attack on Iran will have "catastrophic consequences" and only encourage the regime to become a nuclear power.

Unlike its two nemeses, the US and Israel, Iran has attacked no other countries. It last went to war in 1980 when invaded by Saddam Hussein, who was backed and equipped by the US, which supplied chemical and biological weapons produced at a factory in Maryland. Unlike Israel, the world's fifth military power - with its thermo nuclear weapons aimed at Middle East targets and an unmatched record of defying UN resolutions, as the enforcer of the world's longest illegal occupation - Iran has a history of obeying international law and occupies no territory other than its own.

AHMADINEJAD DID NOT CALL FOR ISRAEL TO BE "WIPED OFF THE MAP"

THE "THREAT" FROM IRAN IS ENTIRELY MANUFACTURED, aided and abetted by familiar, compliant media language that refers to Iran's "nuclear ambitions", just as the vocabulary of Saddam's non-existent WMD arsenal became common usage. Accompanying this is a demonising that has become standard practice. As Edward Herman has pointed out, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "has done yeoman service in facilitating [this]"; yet a close examination of his notorious remark about Israel in October 2005 reveals how it has been distorted. According to Juan Cole, American professor of modern Middle East and south Asian history at the University of Michigan, and other Farsi language analysts, Ahmadinejad did not call for Israel to be "wiped off the map". He said: "The regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time." This, says Cole, "does not imply military action or killing anyone at all". Ahmadinejad compared the demise of the Israeli regime to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Iranian regime is repressive, but its power is diffuse and exercised by the mullahs, with whom Ahmadinejad is often at odds. An attack would surely unite them.

NUCLEAR OPTION

THE ONE PIECE OF "SOLID EVIDENCE" IS THE THREAT POSED BY THE UNITED STATES.

An American naval build-up in the eastern Mediterranean has begun. This is almost certainly part of what the Pentagon calls CONPLAN, which is the aerial bombing of Iran. In 2004, National Security Presidential Directive 35, entitled "Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorisation", was issued. It is classified, of course, but the presumption has long been that NSPD 35 authorised the stockpiling and deployment of "tactical" nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

This does not mean Bush will use them against Iran, but for the first time since the most dangerous years of the cold war, the use of what were then called "limited" nuclear weapons is being discussed openly in Washington. What they are debating is the prospect of other Hiroshimas and of radioactive fallout across the Middle East and central Asia. Seymour Hersh disclosed in the New Yorker last year that American bombers "have been flying simulated nuclear weapons delivery missions . . . since last summer".

The well-informed Arab Times in Kuwait says that Bush will attack Iran before the end of April. One of Russia's most senior military strategists, General Leonid Ivashov, says the US will use nuclear munitions delivered by cruise missiles launched from the Mediterranean. "The war in Iraq," he wrote on 24 January, "was just one element in a series of steps in the process of regional destabilisation.

GROWING ANTI-IRANIAN HYSTERIA, LEAKS, DISINFORMATION

It was only a phase in getting closer to dealing with Iran and other countries. [When the attack on Iran begins] Israel is sure to come under Iranian missile strikes . . . Posing as victims, the Israelis . . . will suffer some tolerable damage and then the outraged US will destabilise Iran finally, making it look like a noble mission of retribution . . . Public opinion is already under pressure. There will be a growing anti-Iranian . . . hysteria, . . . leaks, disinformation et cetera . . . It . . . remain[s] unclear . . . whether the US Congress is going to authorise the war."

Asked about a US Senate resolution disapproving of the "surge" of US troops to Iraq, Vice-President Cheney said: "It won't stop us." Last November, a majority of the American electorate voted for the Democratic Party to control Congress and stop the war in Iraq.

Apart from insipid speeches of "disapproval", this has not happened and is unlikely to happen. Influential Democrats, such as the new leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the would-be presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, have disported themselves before the Israeli lobby. Edwards is regarded in his party as a "liberal". He was one of a high-level American contingent at a recent Israeli conference in Herzliya, where he spoke about "an unprecedented threat to the world and Israel [sic]. At the top of these threats is Iran . . . All options are on the table to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon."

Hillary Clinton has said: "US policy must be unequivocal . . . We have to keep all options on the table." Pelosi and Howard Dean, another liberal, have distinguished themselves by attacking the former president Jimmy Carter, who oversaw the Camp David Agreement between Israel and Egypt and has had the gall to write a truthful book accusing Israel of becoming an "apartheid state". Pelosi said: "Carter does not speak for the Democratic Party." She is right, alas.

ANSWERING THE CHARGES

In Britain, Downing Street has been presented with a document entitled Answering the Charges by Professor Abbas Edalat, of Imperial College London, on behalf of others seeking to expose the disinformation on Iran. Blair remains silent. Apart from the usual honourable exceptions, parliament remains shamefully silent, too.

Can this really be happening again, less than four years after the invasion of Iraq, which has left some 650,000 people dead? I wrote virtually this same article early in 2003; for Iran now, read Iraq then. And is it not remarkable that North Korea has not been attacked? North Korea has nuclear weapons.

In numerous surveys, such as the one released on 23 January by the BBC World Service, "we", the majority of humanity, have made clear our revulsion for Bush and his vassals. As for Blair, the man is now politically and morally naked for all to see.

So who speaks out, apart from Professor Edalat and his colleagues? Privileged journalists, scholars and artists, writers and thespians, who sometimes speak about "freedom of speech", are as silent as a dark West End theatre.

WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR?

The declaration of another thousand-year Reich, or a mushroom cloud in the Middle East, or both?

JOHN PILGER

John Pilger is a renowned author, journalist and documentary film-maker. A war correspondent, his writings have appear in numerous magazines, and newspapers.

First published by the New Statesman (UK) - Story at Information Clearing House + Comments - Url.: http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/300/2/

FPF - RELATED:

* US OFFERS NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMS TO 6 GULF ARAB 'ALLIES' - Url.: dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/137516/index.php

* UPI -IRAN SATISFIED WITH IAEA REPORT - September 1, 2006 - Quote: "Iran has welcomed the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency as evidence of its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog." - Url.: http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MTI4NTQ4

* UN & IAEA FIGURES SHOW: US CONTROLS IRAN PERMANENTLY - Foreign Press Foundation - Url.:
www.countercurrents.org/us-henk160805.htm

* IRAN GENERAL BLAMES 911 ON US AND ISRAEL - General Safavi said that Iran was the leading force of the "Islamic world" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/amn3q The Netherlands ...
forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/ 09/iran-general-blames-911-on-us-and.html

* IRAN: THE SQUALL AND US/NATO'S BLOODLUST - INVADING WAR FLEET NO MATCH FOR SUPER TORPEDO SQUALL - Url.: forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/09/iran-squall-and-usnatos-bloodlust.html

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* LIST OF EIGHTY-FIVE (85) UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING VIOLATIONS ISRAEL DOES NOT CARE ABOUT - Url.: http://www.theiraqmonitor.org/article/view/24819.html

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which even a crook like French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Scotland Yard questions #1 Crime Minister Tony Blair again

2007-02-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

This was publishd yesterday at the other FPF-blog Url.: http://forpressfound.weblogs.cz/

Today - Friday Febr. 2007 it's the death of Molly Ivins many regret.

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Scotland Yard questions #1 Crime Minister Tony Blair again

Maybe the 'rabbit' which the money masters are going to pull out of their top hat is the ''very underreported'' and surprising appointment last 15 January to 'Chief Executive Officer of the Crown Prosecution Service' mr. Peter Lewis? Who will make the final decision on whether to bring formal charges?

SCOTLAND YARD QUESTIONS #1 CRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AGAIN

"IN A STATEMENT TODAY, SCOTLAND YARD SAID THE INTERVIEW WAS KEPT "CONFIDENTIAL" FOR OPERATIONAL REASONS. A SPOKESWOMAN DECLINED TO SAY WHAT THESE WERE."

FPF - Feb. 2nd 2007 - Amsterdam/London - Relevant to this scam is the article published last December 15th concerning the 'grilling' by the police of #1 Crime Minister Tony Blair. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2l8qf8

Now the following is happening: Police investigating the cash-for-honours affair have recovered sensational deleted e-mails from Downing Street computers. They have unearthed potentially vital evidence that key figures close to Tony Blair openly discussed the possibility of Labour donors being rewarded with peerages. Many of the e-mails were not voluntarily disclosed and may have been deliberately concealed, police sources say. These internal communications are key to the file submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will make the final decision on whether to bring formal charges.

So far, four people have been arrested over the inquiry. They are Miss Turner, Lord Levy, major Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and headteacher Des Smith. Although police are said to be "bullish" about their inquiry, officers accept that the final decision to charge will be taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.

SOURCES HAVE NOT RULED OUT AN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE NO10 PULLING A "RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT" IN AN 11TH HOUR ATTEMPT TO AVOID A HUGELY DAMAGING COURT CASE.

Now let's guess: Maybe the 'rabbit' which the criminals responsible of this swindle are going to pull out of their top hat is the ''very underreported'' and surprising appointment to 'Chief Executive Officer of the Crown Prosecution Service' from 15 January Peter Lewis? (English for Levy) Mr Lewis is the one and only who will make the final decision on whether to bring formal charges and take the criminals to court. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/344l5b

The 'Crown' is a committee of twelve to fourteen men who rule the independent sovereign state known as London or 'The City.' 'The City' is not part of England. It is not subject to the Sovereign. It is not under the rule of the British parliament. Like the Vatican in Rome, it is a separate, independent state. - More about this financial Vatican and The Crown - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/zydqo

Knowing Prosecutor Lewis is from The City's Crown* we are not holding our breath. But, what's in a name? Like a rose, a turd is a turd even if called by any other name. Like 'a Lord' - HR

CASH-FOR-HONOURS POLICE QUESTION TONY BLAIR AGAIN

Published by Ian Morgan

UK - Press Association - 01/02/2007 - Prime Minister Tony Blair has been questioned for a second time by police investigating allegations of cash for honours, his official spokesman said today.

The Prime Minister was questioned as a witness for less than one hour at 10 Downing Street last Friday morning.

THE POLICE REQUESTED A NEWS BLACKOUT ON THE INTERVIEW, WHICH WAS NOT LIFTED UNTIL THIS MORNING.

Downing Street refused to comment on the content of the interview, which came a few days after the January 19 arrest of Mr Blair's close aide, Ruth Turner, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, and shortly before this week's arrest of his chief fundraiser, Lord Levy, on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Downing Street said it was not known whether Mr Blair would be questioned again, saying that was "a matter entirely for police". The Prime Minister was not under caution and was not accompanied by a lawyer for Friday's interview, said his official spokesman. The only people present were the Prime Minister himself, a Downing Street note taker and an unknown number of police officers.

The spokesman was unable to say how many police were present, whether they were uniformed or whether they included inquiry chief Assistant Commissioner John Yates.

Because the police requested that news of the interview should not be made public, members of the Downing Street press office team were not informed until late yesterday, when police said that the blackout could be lifted. The spokesman declined to say whether anyone else in Downing Street was informed, saying only that the information was "kept extremely tight".

Mr Blair was previously interviewed by detectives in December, on the day he departed for a week-long tour of the Middle East.

Following Friday's interview, he left London for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. SNP MP Angus MacNeil, whose initial complaint sparked the police inquiry, said the news marked "another bleak first in British politics". "Mr Blair's situation is looking worse with every passing day. He appears to be in very deep trouble. "He's questioned and then a few days later his chief fundraiser Lord Levy is re-arrested. I'd say this marks another escalation in the police inquiry." Mr MacNeil added: "It also gives the lie to suggestions coming out of Downing Street that the police have been leaking, because apparently they asked for a news blackout."

Mr Blair's official spokesman told a regular daily briefing of reporters: "Last Friday, the Prime Minister was briefly interviewed by police as a witness. "At the request of the police, this was kept utterly confidential and as a result the press and communications team in Downing Street were not informed. As far as we were concerned, nothing had changed. "During the course of yesterday afternoon, the police contacted Downing Street to inform us that the requirement for confidentiality had been lifted.

"I AM INFORMING YOU AT THE FIRST APPROPRIATE MOMENT."

The spokesman is asked on a daily basis whether or not Mr Blair has spoken to police or received any request for an interview from Scotland Yard and over the past few days he repeatedly stated that he knew of no such developments.

BUT HE INSISTED TODAY HE DID NOT MISLEAD THE MEDIA, pointing out that he was not informed about the interview until yesterday and was always careful to say: "As far as I am concerned, nothing has changed." Asked about the nature of Friday's interview, he said: "It was at No 10 and it was well short of an hour, not under caution. "We did not in any way brief the content of the initial interview and we will not be briefing the content of the second interview.

"THERE WAS NO LAWYER PRESENT."

Asked whether Mr Blair expected to be interviewed again by police, the spokesman said: "That's a matter entirely for them." He insisted that Mr Blair was not being distracted from his job by the 10-month investigation, which has seen the arrest of four people, including his director of government relations Ms Turner, Lord Levy and major Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans.

The investigation was launched by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Directorate last March following complaints from nationalist MPs that individuals who lent Labour large sums to bankroll their 2005 general election campaign had subsequently been nominated for peerages.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE PRIME MINISTER GETS ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT.

"The issues which are in front of the Government in which he is taking a leading role, whether energy policy, reform of the health service, education, representing the county abroad in terms of issues such as the Middle East, as well as Northern Ireland, are vital issues. "If you look back at the last 12 months on the issues that have come to the fore and are still being driven forward, you can see that this is a government which is moving forward with a very, very strong agenda."

Asked whether Mr Blair was eager to see the lengthy investigation brought to a conclusion, the spokesman said: " What the Prime Minister is determined is that No 10 will fully co-operate with the police and they will carry out their investigation as they should." He added: "There is a police investigation, no one should prejudge the outcome of that investigation in any way. The important thing is that the Prime Minister is getting on with the business of government."

Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd said: "I think it's indicative of the fact that the whole thing does centre around Number 10. "When you think that this whole escapade was kept from the (Labour Party) Treasurer, it's not surprising that the thing is based at Number 10. "It's inevitable now that the police will concentrate all of their efforts on Number 10. "I can't believe under any circumstances that Lord Levy would have been acting in the manner alleged without the tacit understanding of the Prime Minister in that, bearing in mind the close proximity of each man to the other." Mr Llwyd said he had anticipated the Prime Minister would be questioned again given Lord Levy's four-hour police interview this week. "That will have had to be sifted through and matters arising from that put to the Prime Minister," he said.

ON THE NEWS BLACKOUT DOWNING STREET SAID HAD BEEN REQUESTED BY SCOTLAND YARD, MR LLWYD ADDED: "IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL. IF THEY HAVE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY DON'T THEY TELL US ALL ABOUT IT?"

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell's chief of staff, Edward Davey, said: "It is clear that this inquiry is going to haunt Tony Blair throughout his last months in office and beyond. "What is important at this point is that Labour MPs stop sniping at the police from the sidelines and allow them to continue to do their job professionally. "Once again this underlines the significance of securing reform of party funding and the House of Lords at the earliest possible opportunity."

SCOTLAND YARD REFUSED TO COMMENT ON WHY IT HAD REQUESTED A NEWS BLACKOUT ON THE INTERVIEW WITH MR BLAIR UNTIL TODAY.

"We have nothing to say at the moment," a spokeswoman said.

The arrest of Lord Levy on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice was confirmed by the force - albeit in a statement referring to a "man" - on the same evening. But there has been no explanation as to why Scotland Yard asked for a six-day news blackout on last Friday's interview with Mr Blair. Scotland Yard also refused to comment on the reasons for the second interview. The headlines last Friday were dominated by judges going into open revolt over Home Secretary John Reid's plea to send only dangerous offenders to prison. Reports have suggested that Downing Street blames the police for damaging leaks during the investigation. Senior figures at the Metropolitan Police Authority have also alleged there is a "whispering campaign" against Mr Yates - emanating from Westminster.

Labour MP Clive Betts played down he seriousness of the development. "Let's be clear, he is being questioned as a potential witness, he is not under threat of a charge," he told Sky News. He urged the police to come to its conclusions quickly and present any evidence to support the allegations. "Here we have a Prime Minister who has been asked some questions by the police, not even under caution," he said. "Let's try and get this investigation to a conclusion as soon as possible."

Conservative backbencher Nigel Evans said the police should be allowed to take time if that was necessary. But he added: "The fact is the public need to be kept informed about what is going on."

SCOTLAND YARD OUGHT TO CLARIFY WHAT OFFICERS ASKED OF DOWNING STREET AND THE PRIME MINISTER, HE SAID.

"This has clearly very serious implications," he said. "We are now talking about did Downing Street get involved in a cover-up about whether the Prime Minister had a second interview." In a statement today, Scotland Yard said the interview was kept "confidential" for operational reasons. A spokeswoman declined to say what these were. Mr Blair, she said, was spoken to only as a witness and not a suspect, to "clarify" issues relating to the inquiry. "The Prime Minister has been interviewed briefly to clarify points emerging from the ongoing investigation," a spokeswoman said. "He was interviewed as a witness, not as a suspect and co-operated fully. "We requested the meeting was kept confidential for operational reasons."

Scotland Yard did not make any significant public comment at the time of the Prime Minister's first interview.

Story by Press Association 2007 - Url.: http://www.24dash.com/printNews/57/15973.htm

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION - RELATED LINKS:

At Url. http://www.24dash.com/printNews/57/15973.htm you'll find the following links to this scam including the re-arrest of Lord Levy, The City's banker and purse holder of Britain and Blair. What Levy and his racket runs is perfectly described in 'The Evil Empire Revisited' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/hcrg7

Relevant News

1. Police accuse Labour of 'undue pressure' over cash-for-honours probe
2. 13 people under caution in 'cash-for-honours' probe
3. Lord Levy released on bail in 'cash for honours' probe
4. Miliband named in 'honours for cash' scandal
5. 'Cash for honours' controversy 'should not undermine' flagship city academies
6. Police fall silent over 'honours for cash' scandal
7. Arrest made in 'cash for honours' police probe
8. Corruption charges not ruled out in 'cash for honours' scandal

Lord Levy arrested over 'cash for honours' scandal - Jan. 30 - 2007 - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2uozas

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST SCAM EVER IN HUMAN HISTORY: 'THE FED' - Url.: http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/FEDERALRESERVE.HTML

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which even a crook like French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Paris conference: $billions because Israel slaughtered Lebanon?

2007-01-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Imagine they wreck your house and car, kill your wife, rape your daughters and than blame you for attacking them, inviting their friends to cover some of your enormous loss with lies and loans. Acting like their 'president' and whine that all charges about rape and other crimes are 'poisonous, horrible lies: a broad conspiracy'! That's Paris and Tel Aviv for you.

NO SITTING ISRAELI PRESIDENT HAS EVER BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME

by Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent

FPF-Europe - Jan. 25th 2007 - Either we don't understand logic anymore, or the world as we knew it really has gone totally mad. International law and honesty was buried much deeper again at the conference held in Paris to 'help' by Israeli armed forces brutally and illegally war ravaged Lebanon. [map*] The foreign donors - who agree with Israel's genocides - on paper and in front of the TV cameras promised $billions, but it's known that only those ever will pay a cent who see a return on their money, politically or economically. In Paris it was dirty politics and business as usual, proving that international law and decency for this group is a dead letter. None of the war criminals - and there's tons of evidence - was arrested yet.

But also sorely lacking in Paris was any form of logical thinking. "If you break it you own it." is the global logic, but that doesn't seem to work in this 'Alice in Wonderland' meeting which was more 'con' than conference by the junta's warmongers and their liars. Those who themselves are the origin, who have done all the damage, destroyed most of Lebanon's infrastructure and killed and wounded all those people there too; the United States junta and Israel's armed forces, those war criminals now expect others to pay their bloody bills and support their crimes against humanity. There's only one conclusion possible: those psychopaths must be ripe for the Cuckoo nest. They look like human beings, but are stark raving mad in their chutzpah. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/v49l3

The case for normal people in any country ought to be clear: "Bush helped Israeli attack on Lebanon." as also normally compliant The Guardian in the UK wrote on August 14th 2006.* - And there is no doubt in any normal persons mind that: ''The US government was closely involved in planning the Israeli campaign in Lebanon, even before Hizbullah seized two Israeli soldiers in a cross border raids in July 2006." Outside the US junta's and Israel's propaganda circles everybody knows that the attack to wipe out the political Hezbollah party in Lebanon and try to bomb back the country to the Stone Age was prepared and triggered by sending Israeli soldiers regularly across the border into Lebanon. Contrary to the war propaganda it is known that both Israeli soldiers were captured INSIDE Lebanon. On Lebanese territory. They were absolutely NOT 'kidnapped'.

HOLLAND: TRANSITING BANNED AND OTHER US/NATO WEAPONS TO ISRAEL DURING THE WAR

What is absolutely incredible is the way the propaganda media globally avoid to talk about who or what is the reason and why a couple of thousand human beings in Lebanon were killed in cold blood. An unknown amount was by the Israelis wounded and maimed for life and Israel has confirmed the use of banned and other weapons. 'Made in the USA' mostly and flown in via the junta's cowardly Quislings in Holland who betray all and everybody for their warlords. The Netherlands officially confirms 23 uncontrolled flights with military cargos of great quantities of weapons and ammunition from the United States via Holland to Israel during the last two months of the Iraeli invasion of Lebanon. This according to the 'very underreported' written answers to rare questions by Dutch member of parliament Farah Karimi.*

None of this is ever broadcasted by the dreary 'national' propaganda sewers in Holland which up to 99% all work for the war machine. If you are not for Bush and his murdering policy, you're out of the media. One of the worst is the Dutch NOS propaganda TV which at 13.00 hrs today totally prostituted themselves and broadcasted three full minutes about Lebanon, including a lousy comment from Beirut by parrot Nicole le Fevre, the conference and the help without even mentioning the word Israel! Israel as the criminal killer was not even mentioned! The NOS nitwits are beyond all limits of human decency, and keep supporting the genocides.

They support in word and pictures the illegal wars in which Holland is taking part. They only can take part because the people who pay them are lied to: they are not informed about the facts. In the European Union people for instance do not know that their leading criminals postponed a 'cease fire' in Lebanon ''to let Israel have another go at it." But Israel lost the by them started war in Lebanon. And they will lose a lot more when people everywhere are through with the war criminals. When people understand what's done to them, why and by whom.

EU SUPPORTED ISRAEL SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL

UNICEF Executive Director Venema reported on Lebanon: “The untold story of what is going on in this war is that 30 per cent of those who have died are children and 45 per cent of those who are displaced are children so this is really a war that has a very, very immediate and real impact on children.” And all this inhumanity is supported by the criminals running the European Union making the taxpayers foot all the bills. People are lied to and don't even know what they are paying for or how much. Their personel in many cases has gone mad and behaves as if they were in power instead of being civil servants. Serving the people which pay them. But their time in jail will come too.

The so called 'governments' - and that also goes for most of the European Union as seen in the mainstream media - are totally in the beblooded hands of the junta. So for instance the traitors in The Netherlands who helped transiting US planes full of banned and other weapons to Israel which was committing a genocidal war in Lebanon. Contrary to all international law and secretly paid with the billions embezzled from uninformed Dutch taxpayers. The corrupted and blood besmirched compliant politicians - the criminal christian crusaders - were forced to admit this in writing, but it is an enormous shame that they are not in jail yet. For life and with hard labor, which they fully deserve as soon as justice can be done. They kill people and walk around free? That world must change!

TO DESTROY PEOPLE AND COUNTRY.

Listening in Paris to the gathered war criminals is more than a normal human being can stand. Whether it's Washington's puppet, Lebanese PM Siniora - who was put on his bloody throne by the US/CIA/Mossad fabricated 'Cedar revolution' or see US junta's Condoleezza Rice who in human circles around the world was feared as the personification of the Black Plague. To normal people Rice only represents death and destruction. Millions have died in many countries around the world through their inhuman system and the US junta's war machine Rice serves. But she'll pay. And the criminal gang around her too.

The Paris conference of Bush supporters and Israel freaks - who never acknowledge the millions of innocent victims or the rape of Lebanon by the US/Israeli warmongers - this whole sick 'conference' is for the most lost to Israeli readers. They are confronted with former 'president' Moshe Katsav who 'shaking with fury' rebuffed growing calls for his resignation saying forty-four (44) accusations he committed rape and other crimes were "poisonous, horrible lies" that were part of a broad conspiracy against him. So now 'conspiracies are possible?

THE 'PRESIDENT' RAPES COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE IN REALITY

Moshe Katsav sees momentum building for lawmakers to open unprecedented impeachment proceedings against him, the same as should happen to Bush c.s. soon too. Israeli top officials, including the war criminal PM Ehud Olmert said: "Katsav cannot continue to fulfill his position and he must leave the president's residence." And that is quite a blow for Katsav, on top of the rest of the 'blowback'. The question is of course why this Katsav is thrown to the wolves. He's probably used as a patsy so the other mafiosi can go free for another while. Olmert c.s. is a war criminal himself and should have been in jail with the others a long time ago, but the tide is turning and they'll - like their likewise guilty and raping president - soon be locked up forever.

NO SITTING ISRAELI PRESIDENT HAS EVER BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

But the Israeli public has grown accustomed to the spectacle of politicians mired in corruption scandals. Former Justice Minister Haim Ramon is currently being tried in a separate sexual misconduct case, and Olmert is under investigation for his role in the sale of a government-controlled bank.*

Informed observers like Prof. Michel Chossudovsky* and Mike Whitney* wrote about Lebanon: "Remember, Siniora refused to even deploy the Lebanese army to fight the Israelis when they invaded his country and killed 1300 Lebanese nationals. For the hundreds of thousands of victims in the south, there’s no doubt as to where Siniora’s true loyalties lie.

WASHINGTON’S OBJECTIVE IS TO TRANSFORM LEBANON INTO A US PROTECTORATE.

Siniora is Washington’s man. In fact, he even kept the lines of communication open with Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, while his country was being bombed with American ordinance dropped from Israeli planes. After the war he quickly reopened the US embassy even though his country’s infrastructure was still in ruins from Israel’s 34 Day rampage. He has been a great asset to US-Israeli plans to create a “New Middle East”, but utterly useless for the great body of poverty-stricken and homeless Lebanese civilians.

Michel Chossudovsky summarized the administration’s goals in Lebanon by stating that Washington's objective is to transform Lebanon into a US protectorate. The Lebanese people are demanding the resignation of a government which is acting on behalf of the US and Israeli invaders of their country. They are demanding the formation of a national unity government which will defend the Lebanese homeland against US-Israeli aggression.” - Chossudovsky adds:

THE BEIRUT GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ORDERS DIRECTLY FROM THE US EMBASSY.

The Siniora government has allowed the deployment of NATO forces on Lebanese territory under the pretext of UN-sponsored peace-keeping operation. NATO warships under German command are stationed off the country’s eastern Mediterranean coastline. NATO has a military cooperation agreement with Israel.” That's why and today again so many people in Lebanon want Siniora to disappear and there at present day and night are such massive strikes and demonstrations against the US-backed Lebanese Government.*

Not a word on the Paris conference was asked, but according to a poll published Thursday (today) in the Israeli mass circulation Yediot Ahronot newspaper showed that 71 percent of respondents want Katsav to resign at once, while 29 percent said he need not quit now. Resignation or dismissal would deprive Katsav, 61, of his presidential immunity.

But many are afraid that the shocking rape of Lebanon by Israel in the end pays too. Again confirming that for the US junta and its managers in power crime pays. Until they are stopped and punished. Paris was the limelight for these parasites and it is a pity they were not arrested yet.

But in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon many people fight against them.

AND THEY WIN.

HENK RUYSSENAARS

REFERENCES:

* Bush 'helped Israeli attack on Lebanon' - The Guardian (UK) - Url.: http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1844021,00.html

* THE TWO ISRAELI SOLDIERS WERE CAPTURED IN LEBANON - Url.: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/israeli_solders.html

* Lebanon - Map and txt - Url.: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/lebanon.htm

* AP (American Propaganda) - Story in The Guardian (UK) - Url.: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6370307,00.html

* THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT TRANSITED BANNED AND OTHER WEAPONS FOR THE US AND ISREAL DURING THEIR ILLEGAL WAR ON LEBANON - THAT IS A WAR CRIME - http://beirut.indymedia.org/ar/2006/08/5227.shtml

* US AND ISRAEL SUPPORTED BY THE EU KEEP KILLING - Url.: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/346697.html

* WHERE IS ALL THE 'DONOR MONEY' RECYCLED? - Their 'donors' bank (BIS) has greater immunity than any sovereign nation on earth, is accountable to no one, runs global monetary affairs and is privately owned. The same group owns the Federal Reserve, their 'money print shop' in the US. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6xmed

* THE BY THE US JUNTA CREATED 'REALITY' IS NOT FOR HUMAN BEINGS BUT FOR THIS GROUP OF INSANE 'HUMANOIDS'. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/v49l3

* PROF. MICHEL CHOSSUDOVSKY - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/3cfmbh

* MIKE WHITNEY - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2ut7rh

* FORMER PRESIDENT MOSHE KAZAV'S PRESIDENTIAL PALACE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/2ssm8o

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
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US offers nuclear power programs to 6 Gulf Arab 'allies'

2007-01-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

The 'International Atomic Energy Agency' IAEA after three years of investigations in Iran has NOT FOUND any material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and Iran is not developing 'the bomb'. But Washington announces to be a "willing partner" and offers support for nuclear programs to 6 neighboring Gulf 'allies'.

THE US JUNTA AND OTHER LIARS PREPARING WAR WITH IRAN

By Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF - Jan. 24th 2007 - Within a few weeks 'International Atomic Energy Agency' IAEA's Director General Mohamed ElBaradei will report again on the by the US junta fabricated lies concerning the so called 'nuclear program' of Iran which according to Washington's and other global liars is meant to produce nuclear weapons. At the same time the US management is offering nuclear power programs and know how, stating it wants to act as 'willing partners' to six Gulf Arab allies.

Already last year in a report to all concerned the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that it HAS NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE that Teheran had diverted or was using material towards making atomic weapons. In its report which has been circulated to its 35 board members, the IAEA said that its three years of investigations had not shown "any diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices." Even 'Associated Press' AP (now Associated Propaganda) had to report it.*

At present Nicholas Burns, the US junta's ''undersecretary of state for political affairs'' is traveling in the area and in reality is telling Iran to 'back off' from the Gulf oil and surrender to the US and the US dollar on the $ dominated oil market or face another illegal US junta war with destruction and more millions dead under some stupid pretext and/or 'false flag' operation. (Like 9/11) In his conversations with local (mis)leaders and others in the area, Burns implied they want war and ruled out direct US negotiations with Iran. He said a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran was not possible until Iran halts its enrichment of uranium. Even if Iran is legally entitled to it? The same criminal chutzpah as always, with Israel using a mock Arab village to train for the illegal invasion and war.

US: 71 PERCENT SAY THE COUNTRY IS SERIOUSLY OFF TRACK

But Burns, defending the next inhuman and illegal action by the blood- and power lusting junta phrased the hegemony and crusade plans like this: "The Middle East isn't a region to be dominated by Iran." From his and his racket's sick point of view our world should be dominated by the US junta's managers and their malignant system which already has cost millions of human lives. Why can't they f..k off and leave us alone is the global question asked by normal people. The fact that 75 percent of the US americans think Bush's junta-US is way off track or that a majority wants the wars to end doesn't seem to matter to the managers of the US.

They want everybody to forget that Iran is much bigger, richer, has a more bigger and well trained army than Iraq ever had, with the latest 'state of the art' weapons. And also forget that all people in Iran know the US managers financed the whole Iraqi war against them with US/CIA buddy Saddam Hussein. Who gassed Iranian people with American gas, made in Maryland. They want everybody on earth to forget that the Iranians are very angry, like millions upon millions more in East and West suffering from the war managers' inhumanity.

The junta members themselves lose nothing: not a live, a dime nor a war. It's not 'their war' poor US/NATO cannon fodder is fighting getting radiated by uranium ammunition. Civilians and soldiers get the bullets or cancer while the war lords turn our blood into their gold. They hoard the profits and think this inhuman global state of affairs is fine - as long as we don't understand that they are doing all this to our earth and us. That's why they keep on with the wars and recycle our money too. Here in the Swiss Alps for instance, at one of their 'untouchable' headquarters. Their main bank, the BIS, has greater immunity than any sovereign nation on earth, is accountable to no one, runs global monetary affairs and is privately owned. By the same group which owns the Federal Reserve, their money print shop in the US. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6xmed

OFFERING NUCLEAR PROGRAMS TO 6 'ALLIES'

The falsely accused Iranian government already years ago signed the 'Non Proliferation Treaty' (NPT) to avoid the spreading of nuclear weapons (which Israel with all its nukes never did) and Iran has endured humiliating and permanent control in its own country by IAEA inspectors. US keyhole satellites have for two decades controlled every move, every building of something, and any truck or wheelbarrow rolling in Iran* But the US and its so called 'allies' in the 'Coalition of the Killing' keep lying via their propaganda media: they want hegemony/control through war.

In line with the present US junta's 'policy' Burns said: "Washington would be a "willing partner" in support of civilian nuclear power programs in its six Gulf Arab allies, saying the Bush administration supports nuclear energy as a means to combat global warming. (What about Kyoto? - HR) But the diplomat said that Iran needs to halt its uranium enrichment as a precondition for any direct discussions with Washington. Several prominent American leaders have urged the Bush administration to talk to Iran. "It doesn't make any sense to negotiate with Iran while their nuclear programme is ongoing," Burns said. "There is an entry fee to the game and everybody has to pay it. You too, Iran, have to pay it." - AP (Associated Propaganda)

This junta of psychopaths must be totally power crazy and mad in many ways, because they have no right whatsoever in the whole world to claim anything from any other sovereign state. They have NO right but use their brutal armed force which anyhow is broken down by the growing resistance of victimized people who are still alive and can not stand this racket and it's system anymore. It's the global warmongers and their propagandists in the media which must pay the price for their inhumanity and treason. And pay a heavy price. People all over want revenge for all the millions of dead, tortured and maimed by the junta with its system, in their global crusade for profit and power.

US JUNTA WARNS IRAN WITHOUT ANY RIGHT TO DO SO: BACK OFF FROM GULF!

An article in the Kuwait Times today confirms what many outside the US junta's malignant sphere fear when they write about another US aircraft carrier strike group now steaming toward the Middle East: Washington's way in its attempt to dominate the region. Burns represents the worst of the worst among the US warmongers and confirmed that the United States will protect its interests anywhere and at any price to others. It does absolutely not matter to them if millions of human beings die.

The propagandists of the US/NATO war machine today again try to enforce their warmongering by falsely claiming that North Korea 'will help Iran to test nuclear bombs'. That's what one of the most infamous british secret service errand boys and ghostwriters, The Daily Telegraph' s Con Coughlin* now again lies about. This creep is a shame for journalism and a vile traitor who has been long under investigation for his blatant lies. He is supposed to be 'Defence and Security editor' of the despicable Telegraph, but actually works for the british secret service MI6, the CIA and Mossad. Since January 5 Coughlin is investigated concerning his totally misleading 'articles' on Iran.*

He was also the jerk who helped to publish the fake story about Iraq's WMD's hitting England in forty-five minutes. A propaganda lie also used by UK crime minister Tony Blair who has the consiglieri of the London War Lords as his advisers. Treacherous propaganda parrots in the media of the US managers colonies just repeat 'His master's Voice' and spread the dangerous nonsense and other BS from the US junta's lie factory.

And in England Ofcom, the regulator for the UK communications industries, will investigate - now follows a euphemism for propaganda and outright lies: the 'alleged bias' by the BBC after a large number of complaints received.* The BBC showed to be worse qua war propaganda than the junta's FOX, CNN and all other propaganda sewers, since the London warlords got their own man, Michael Grade, at the top of the BBC. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/l687f

Burns: "In the final two years of the Bush presidency it will be the Middle East where we will focus the majority of our attention." And that's what millions of people dislike and will stop. The blood of all the victims has washed away the last parts of the US façade. It's only a blood besmirched 'Stars and Stripes' which still can be seen above the waves of anger.

The junta's global genocide for power and profit has to be ended, and the main responsibility lies with the US americans who let this happen. They must act now.

And fight for punishment of all crimes against us, humanity.

People do not want war but peace.

HENK RUYSSENAARS

FPF - References:

* IAEA says no evidence of Iranian Nuclear Weapons plan - Url.: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=ANE20060302&articleId=2055

* UN Figures Show: US Controls Iran Permanently - Url.: http://www.countercurrents.org/us-henk160805.htm

* FALSE PROPAGANDA IN THE MEDIA: North Korea 'helps' Iran with nuclear test -
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Daily+Telegraph%22+%2BIran&oe=ISO-8859-1&sa=N&tab=wn

* STOP BBC MEDIA BIAS AGAINST IRAN - Url.: http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/1030/print

* 'CONMAN' COUGHLIN AS MI6-CIA-MOSSAD GHOSTWRITER UNDER INVESTIGATION - British Journalism Review - Url.: http://www.bjr.org.uk/data/2000/no2_leigh.htm

* DAILY TELEGRAPH POLITICAL EDITOR INVESTIGATED OVER MISLEADING ARTICLES ON IRAN - Url.: http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/785

* NO PROOF FOUND OF IRAN ARMS PROGRAM - THE WASHINGTON POST - Article Url.: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201447_pf.html

ISRAEL USES MOCK ARAB VILLAGE TO TRAIN FOR WAR - Url.: http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Security/10431.htm

* The IAEA and Iran - home page - Url.: http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.com/u/IaeaORG?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&domains=www.iaea.org&q=Iran&btnG=Search&sitesearch=iaea.org

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Bush To Face Skeptical Congress + 71% say the US is seriously off track

2007-01-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

FPF-fwd. Washington Post + links

Comment: The Washington Post is like The New York Times and all the other major media like CNN, FOX or the BBC part of the US junta's war machine and for 99% they sell propaganda which has nothing in common with reailty.

It is on the other hand a pity that it has taken so many years for the US population and other brainwashed people anywhere in the world to understand that this system has to go before the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off by the system this US junta represents. - HR

"71 PERCENT SAY THE COUNTRY IS SERIOUSLY OFF TRACK"

IRAQ OVERSHADOWS DOMESTIC OUTREACH

By Peter Baker and Jon Cohen - Washington Post Staff Writers

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - President Bush plans to reach out to the opposition in his State of the Union address tonight with new and recycled proposals on health care, energy, immigration and education, but the uproar over his decision to send more U.S. troops to Iraq has eclipsed potential consensus on domestic policy.

As he addresses a Congress controlled entirely by Democrats for the first time since he took office, Bush faces deep skepticism inside the chamber, even within the House Republican leadership, which yesterday made proposals intended "to hold the Bush administration . . . accountable" for the progress of his latest Iraq plan.

The doubt on Capitol Hill reflects the continuing erosion of Bush's public support across the country. His approval rating is at the lowest level of his presidency, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, and only twice in the past six decades has a president delivered his annual speech to the nation in a weaker condition in the polls -- Harry S. Truman in the midst of the Korean War in 1952 and Richard M. Nixon in the throes of Watergate in 1974.

BUSH CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN A CRISIS

For the first time, majorities of Americans say Bush cannot be trusted in a crisis, has not made the country safer and should withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq to avoid further casualties rather than leave them until civil order is restored. And, in a sign of intensifying opposition, a majority -- 51 percent -- for the first time expressed strong disapproval of Bush's performance, compared with 17 percent who strongly approved.

"The world changed significantly on Election Day, and the only people who were surprised were them," GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio said of Bush and his aides. Now, he added, "they've backed themselves into a tough corner, and the problem is his continued insistence for the troop increase, which flies in the face of what 70 percent of Americans want, makes him look . . . like [he's saying], 'I'll listen to you, but I'll do what I want anyway.' "

The poll indicates that Bush has made no headway in selling his decision to bolster troop levels in Iraq by 21,500, with 65 percent now opposing it, compared with 61 percent the night of his Jan. 10 nationally televised address. Three in five Americans trust congressional Democrats more than Bush to deal with Iraq, and the same proportion want Congress to try to block his troop-increase plan.

THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN

Bush's overall approval rating of 33 percent matches the lowest it has been in Post-ABC polls since he became president, and 71 percent say the country is seriously off track, the highest such expression of national pessimism in more than a decade. By contrast, newly installed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is enjoying a honeymoon, with 54 percent approving her handling of the job.

While Bush will devote about half of tonight's 40-minute-plus speech to Iraq, the broader battle with Islamic radicals and other foreign policy matters, advisers said they understand that only sustained and visible progress on the ground in Iraq might change American minds about the war. The best Bush can hope for tonight, they said, is to prevent a wholesale defection by Republicans and buy enough time for his plan to work.

"He knows there's great skepticism," said a senior White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the speech before its delivery. "But in spite of that, he believes there's much to be done if we can work together."

Aides said Bush will not directly engage in a debate over congressional efforts to block the troop increase. But in private briefings for administration allies yesterday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove said Bush will challenge Congress to put up its own plan if it does not like his "new way forward," according to people who were briefed.

Past presidents who found themselves facing an opposition Congress tried to tack to the middle after suffering midterm retreats. "This president, based on his speech last week, is taking the opposite approach," said Michael Waldman, a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton who heads New York University's Brennan Center for Justice. "The 2006 election was as close to a referendum on a president and issue as you get in our constitutional system. So for the president to move to escalate, it's very dramatic."

While recognizing differences over Iraq, Bush does aim to make progress with Democrats on domestic policy. The four main issues he will emphasize -- health care, immigration, energy and education -- are closer to Democratic priorities than issues in some past State of the Union addresses. And Bush tried to send a signal on the eve of the speech by accepting an invitation to address the House Democratic retreat in Williamsburg on Feb. 3.

HE'S GOT TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY

"They're going to focus on issues and themes where they think they can get bipartisan cooperation," said Cesar Conda, former domestic policy adviser to Vice President Cheney. "It's a big difference from before, when he had a Republican Congress and the big issues would have been making the tax cuts permanent and reforming the tax code. It's a change in tone and focus. He's got to deal with the reality of a Democratic Congress."

Some of Bush's domestic discussion will sound familiar. He plans to repeat his call to overhaul immigration laws and allow illegal immigrants to become guest workers, an idea that may find more favor among Democrats than it did with Republicans last year. He plans to call for the extension of his No Child Left Behind education program, with modifications to make it more flexible, but will not ask Congress to expand it to high school as he did in the past.

The White House has previewed two new health-care proposals that will be in the speech. The first would make employer-provided health-care benefits taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for singles. Officials said the plan would increase taxes for 30 million families whose benefits are worth more than the deduction but would provide a tax break to the vast majority of families with employer coverage as well as to 17 million people who purchase insurance on their own. The program would begin in 2009 and cost the government during its first years of operation but pay for itself by 2018, they said.

Bush also wants to redirect spending from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs toward new grants to help states ensure that everyone has access to affordable basic health insurance, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said yesterday. Leavitt did not specify a cost but said the new program would spur efforts already underway in states such as Massachusetts and California to provide coverage to people without health insurance.

The main uncertainty is what Bush will say about energy and the environment. Amid much talk about climate change and energy security, the president and his aides have promised unspecified "bold" ideas. Officials have ruled out binding caps on emissions of greenhouse gases, despite support among Democrats and some corporate executives who came to Washington yesterday. But they told allies that Bush will advance ideas for greatly expanding ethanol as an alternative to oil, and some insiders expect changes in fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.

Staff writers Dan Balz, Chris Cillizza, Christopher Lee and Lori Montgomery contributed to this report.

Url.: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012200236.html

AND THIS IS WHAT BUSH SHOULD TALK ABOUT TOO:

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION - RELATED LINKS:

* FASCISM: ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Chertoff's lawless SS ('Security Service? - For whom?) roaming the US and it's fiefdoms. The bill signed signed by would-be 'emperor' George Busholini into law also: ''legalizes U.S. war crimes committed before December 30, 2005.'' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST SCAM EVER IN HUMAN HISTORY: 'THE FED' - 'Responsible' only to the 'Bank of International Settlements' (BIS - see above) in Switzerland - Url.: http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/FEDERALRESERVE.HTML

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

* BRITISH MP GEORGE GALLOWAY STATED TOTALLY CORRECT: ''BLAIR, OLMERT AND BUSH ARE MURDERERS'' - Url.:http://beirut.indymedia.org/en/2006/08/5072.shtml

* BBC IN ARABIC? US PROPAGANDA: R.I.P. AL JAZEERA - DAVID FROST 'FRONT MAN' AT AL-JAZEERA INTERNATIONAL - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6us8n

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: "The huge omnivorous herd consumes everywhere on our earth as much as it can grab, and tramples millions of human beings to death. That doesn't seem to matter. The 'elephant boys' don't speak about the bloody pulp underneath the feet of the big animals: instead they give them a bath in the mainstream." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/np823

* MORE LINKS & BACKGROUND LINKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - If after checking a factual error is found, pls. send an email so it can be corrected. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/fhln9

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

BBC: US's global role worse 75% says

2007-01-23T18:11:00.000-08:00

The questions were put to people in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

VIEW OF US'S GLOBAL ROLE 'WORSE' 75% SAYS

FPF comment: 50 years ago legendary US journalist IF (Izzy) Stone said what many know: all governments lie . So we better keep in mind that no poll nor government ever should be trusted. And absolutely not when any information is offered by the compliant BBC which only broadcasted two percent dissent concerning the global wars with millions of dead and suffering human beings.

If one looks at the countries summed up below one will see that it's the usurpers, the US war machine's managers which 'rule' in those countries in one or other form. Bleeding every one of them like all the others. One wonders how they ever think they will survive this. If they're lucky they will escape the rightful revenge of their millions of victims and end up in jail for life as they deserve.

The logical conclusion ought to be however, that reality is much worse for the US junta and all its collaborators everywhere on earth. The poll shows that there are people everywhere around the world which are able to think and draw their own conclusions, also in all by the junta managers usurped and occupied countries. People who disregard the global brainwashing by the junta's warmongers with their lies and propaganda spouting media. - HR

VIEW OF US'S GLOBAL ROLE 'WORSE'

The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests.

BBC - 2007/01/23 - The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington had dealt with Iraq.

The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the way five other foreign policy areas had been handled.

The poll, released ahead of President Bush's State of the Union speech, was conducted between November and January.

The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years.

In those countries, 29% of people said the US had a positive influence, down from 36% last year and 40% two years ago.

Across the 25 countries polled, 49% of respondents said the US played a mainly negative role in the world.

In Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines and the US most of those polled said they thought America had a positive role.

But among Americans, the number of those who viewed their country's role positively fell to 57% - six percentage points down from last year and 14 percentage points down from two years ago.

MID-EAST ROLE

Respondents were also asked about the Bush administration's handling of six areas of foreign policy:

* The war in Iraq: an average of 73% of respondents disapproved (57% in the US). Disapproval was strongest in Argentina and France, while people in Nigeria, Kenya and the Philippines were more likely to approve.

* Detainees in Guantanamo: 67% disapproved (50% in the US). Backing for America on this issue was highest in Nigeria, where 49% approved.

* Israeli-Hezbollah war: Washington's role met with approval from respondents in Nigeria and Philippines, but on average 65% disapproved across the 25 countries (50% in the US).

* Iran's nuclear programme: again, support for US actions appeared strongest in Kenya (62%), Nigeria (53%) and the Philippines (52%). But, overall 60% of respondents disapproved (50% in the US).

* Global warming: more than 80% of respondents in Argentina, France and Germany disapproved compared to 56% overall (54% in the US). But the White House had 50% or more support among those polled in Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines and South Korea.

* North Korea's nuclear programme: opposition to US policy was strongest among respondents in Argentina and Brazil. On average across the 25 countries 54% disapproved (43% in the US).

When asked about US military presence in the Middle East, an average of 68% of respondents across the 25 countries answered that it "provokes more conflict than it prevents".

SEE THE FULL SURVEY VIA THE BBC LINK BELOW.

In Nigeria, 49% of respondents said it was a "stabilising force", as did 41% in the Philippines, 40% in Kenya and 33% in the US.

The poll was conducted for the BBC World Service by GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes (Pipa) at the University of Maryland. It has a margin of error ranging from +/-2.5% to +/-4%.

The questions were put to people in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Story from BBC 'NEWS' - Url.: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6286755.stm

SOME OF THE REASONS WHY:

FPF - RELATED LINKS:

* MICHAEL GRADE IS THE WARMONGERING JUNTA'S ERRAND BOY AT THE BBC - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/l687f

* FASCISM MADE IN THE US: 'MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST SCAM EVER IN HUMAN HISTORY: 'THE FED' - 'Responsible' only to the 'Bank of International Settlements' (BIS - see above) in Switzerland - Url.: http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/FEDERALRESERVE.HTML

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

* BRITISH MP GEORGE GALLOWAY STATED TOTALLY CORRECT: ''BLAIR, OLMERT AND BUSH ARE MURDERERS'' - Url.:http://beirut.indymedia.org/en/2006/08/5072.shtml

* BBC IN ARABIC? US PROPAGANDA: R.I.P. AL JAZEERA - DAVID FROST 'FRONT MAN' AT AL-JAZEERA INTERNATIONAL - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6us8n

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: "The huge omnivorous herd consumes everywhere on our earth as much as it can grab, and tramples millions of human beings to death. That doesn't seem to matter. The 'elephant boys' don't speak about the bloody pulp underneath the feet of the big animals: instead they give them a bath in the mainstream." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/np823

* MORE LINKS & BACKGROUND LINKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - If after checking a factual error is found, pls. send an email so it can be corrected. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/fhln9

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

To Would-Be American Leaders - kirwan

2007-01-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

"YOU WILL NEED THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, HEARING OR READING"

by Kirwan

Jan. 22nd 2007 - Welcome to the side of the universe that does not deal in the things you value. Know that if you are in college or an institution of higher learning today –you have to be dumber than a box of rocks. Whatever you are supposedly studying is a dead-end street-given the course this nation is currently pursuing. The world is interactive, and as people still in school you are not participating in this society, except to the degree that you may be seeking a personal passport to money and success, according to the doctrines of the New World Order-whether you like it or not!

In case you missed it, the powers that be in the world of formal education have been co-opted by the financiers of global corruption and privatized plundering. So whatever you may be 'studying' will either be downsized, outsourced, or eliminated either just before or just after you complete your courses. Say goodbye to your private passports to promise and/or real money. The good news is that you won't need to pay back the egregious sums involved in your student loans because the bad news is that there won't be a society into which you can ply the paper-world of your freshly minted degrees.

YOU WILL NEED THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, HEARING OR READING

There are institutions of 'higher learning' all around you whether in the major cities or in the adjacent suburbs and they're free. But to 'access' them you will need the ability to understand what you're seeing, hearing or reading: most of all what you'll need is the one faculty that you obviously lack.

You must understand how any society is structured, and that is a view that can only be understood by looking at the streets and neighborhoods where the less fortunate live. FYI all real societies are held together by razor thin threads of trust. The death knell for any would-be society is the imposition of mega-lies, massive deceptions and total control of what used to be the government. You have obviously missed the boat entirely because you have remained outside the public commons when it comes to weighing-in on where this nation ought to be going. Your predecessors instinctively knew this (because they faced a draft) and became involved in a pivotal way-to STOP the Vietnam War. But because you are not yet threatened with the DRAFT, you've basically remained immune from the slaughter, the massive death and horror being produced minute-to-minute in the Middle-East.

There is a precedent for this – people such as Dick Cheney, George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and another 50 or so members of this administration who also ducked previous conflicts to pursue their greed and passion for money and power-much as you are doing now! If you disagree, then where's the evidence of your commitment to an open government, to free speech zones in this country or to a responsible federal government that cannot, in conscience, continue to send your ex-classmates into that jet-propelled meat grinder that is simply called "THE War." If you continue to show so little concern for the lives of the less fortunate in this society, or the ones that we're killing (those without access to connections) – then you deserve the failure you are paying through the nose to obtain!

If you doubt my words, just look at how much control over higher education has recently taken over the funding for colleges and universities, not to mention the new federal role in student loans everywhere. If students were to organize demonstrations against the war – the institutions themselves would be penalized by the feds – through funding losses that would directly affect the price of your so-called 'educations.' So you choose not to rock the boat-which continues to aid and abet the criminals who are running the American side of this war. Of course you could fight your administrations - but that would be out-of-character given your "status in the pursuit of fun & games!"

FAIL THE OBLIGATION TO YOURSELVES

On the other hand if you continue to fail your fellow citizens-as supposedly the most privileged among the youth of this country-then you will also fail the obligation to yourselves and to your own potential futures, as that privileged class that is supposedly being groomed to take over the reins of everything that is America, as an idea or as a country.

People around the world are dying by the millions under American and Israeli guns, bombs and torture. Currently this war is costing the US a mere $8.4 Billion a month to stay in Iraq. If you think for a second that this kind of commitment can be continued indefinitely then you need to enroll immediately in math 101.

If you believe the BS that comes from the puppeteers running the war machine, then you need to be made aware of exactly who is directly profiting from this huge financial outlay. Even a lowly college student should be able to figure this one out. . .

"WHY DID SO MANY HAVE TO DIE? WHO PROFITS?

It started with Dresser Industries: 'We manufacture market and service the critical equipment that forms the backbone of the world's energy infrastructure.'

What does this have to do with the War in Iraq? Prescott S. Bush who was George Jr.'s Granpappy served on the board of Directors for 22 years. Even George Sr. served on the same board until 1998, that's when Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney acquired Dresser-in other words the Bushes had Cheney use Halliburton's money to buy their family business for $7.7 billion. Doesn't Halliburton get most of its money from American taxpayer dollars awarded through (secret) government contracts?

Before the Bushes had Cheney acquire Dresser Industries. . . Dresser bought a rival company called Kellogg in 1988, ever heard of a company called KBR? It's a Halliburton subsidiary otherwise known as Kellogg, Brown & Root. The 'K' in KBR is the same Kellogg owned by the Bush family business.

KBR just happens to be the recipient of billions in taxpayer dollars through NO BID CONTRACTS.

Is this why Bush was so horny for war? This is why our men and women were sent to their deaths."

In Iraq Bush Jr. says "you don't succeed in Iraq before the mission is complete."

"THE MISSION? TO KEEP KBR IN IRAQ AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE WORLD'S ENERGY AND PROFIT FROM THE BLOOD OF AMERICAN LIFE.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DEAD.

ALL HAIL THE PROFITEER IN CHIEF.

The Great profiteer who oversaw 'Halliburton plans Spinoff of KBR" by taking it public." (1)

And those secret no–bid contracts were involved in what the General Accounting Office found to be over $9 Billion that simply disappeared from the money appropriated for Halliburton and KBR.

These are the kinds of business opportunities that have a controlling interest today: and unless a whole lot more of you begin to speak out – that will be your future as surely as it has been ours for the last six years!

JIM KIRWAN

Home page - Url.: http://www.kirwanesque.com/

Email: kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net

1) The War based on Lies - Url.: http://wakeupfromyourslumber.blogspot.com/2006/10/america-seduced-into-war-based-on-lies_27.html

BACKGROUND

Impeach Bush Stop the Attack on Iran - Url.: http://www.rense.com/general75/impc.htm

The story above is also published at RENSE - Url.: http://www.rense.com/general75/towould.htm

MainPage - Url.: http://www.rense.com

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION - RELATED LINKS:

* ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: "The huge omnivorous herd consumes everywhere on our earth as much as it can grab, and tramples millions of human beings to death. That doesn't seem to matter. The 'elephant boys' don't speak about the bloody pulp underneath the feet of the big animals: instead they give them a bath in the mainstream." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/np823

* MORE LINKS & BACKGROUND LINKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - If after checking a factual error is found, pls. send an email so it can be corrected. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/fhln9

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Fisk & Chomsky: Which holocaust?

2007-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

MESSMEDIA MANURE AND MURDER

Concerns the question: "Is there really nothing one can do to stop this disastrous scenario from unveiling?' - by 'gul' - from Robert Fisk' article. - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16235.htm

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT BORN BAD: THEY ARE MADE BAD

by Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent

FPF - Mon Jan 22, 2007 - The main thing at first - everywhere on earth - is to get back the media platforms to let our voices and other information be heard. Grab the megaphones from their blood drenched claws and 'follow the money'. Show family, friends and anybody you can reach on earth the main question and answers: Who Profits? And let's not quarrel about the effects: look hard at who and what is is the origin of the plague that has been pestering us, mankind, for such a long time.

This group - (and wherever on our world you are, forget about religion, politics and similar escapisms like football, shopping, faked monarchies or other dividing idiocies) - well, this group of usurers has taken our voices, and in many cases our votes. Many times cowardly 'helped' by disgusting local traitors and puppets on 'government' gutter level. And this money and power mafia for ages has been turning our blood into their gold. What this racket runs is perfectly described in 'The Evil Empire Revisited' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/hcrg7

But, never generalize like we more or less are taught by 'their' propaganda and the books 'they' print. Don't just say it's the Jews, (even if many claim to be and/or are jewish) Catholics, Dutch, Turks, the US Americans, Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Africans, Latin Americans or English, the Greeks or the by this US junta home-made boogeyman al Qaeda and other 'false flag' operations like their inside job, 9/11. never listen to what the warlords say: just look at what they are doing. And if you and yours don't like it: say it and help to stop them.

MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS DEAD DOESN'T MATTER: ONLY $MILLIONS IN PROFIT DOES.

Many, as I wrote, are falsely claiming for instance to be 'jewish' to be able to use and abuse the low brow expression like "anti-semitism". Which covers their malpractice, and that's why 'they' run the global media... The expression 'anti-semitism' is very often used by the defenders of the London warlords profit system and is a very stupid accusation which holds not a drop of water. There are a lot of creatures who try to use this utter nonsense because they keep hiding behind it.

Many as I said claim to be 'jewish' but are maybe Khazars or born into some other group/tribe. And some of the criminal cabal which is permanently wrecking humanity and the rest of our world and which are managed by the malignant moneymakers in London's "the City" too, are not even 'jewish' or real semites like the Arabs and others. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

USING THIS PHRASE ABOUT 'ANTI-SEMITISM'

Because if for instance - like I've done for decades too - one keeps insisting that also semitic people like the Palestinians and Lebanese for instance are human beings like you and me - am I than a pro-semite? Or what? Anybody using this phrase about 'anti-semitism' when usurers are attacked, shows immediately that they are part of the problem, not the solution.

Anybody anywhere who supports what the US junta is doing with it's war machine, including the cancerous radiation of radioactive dust poisoning the people and earth, including the usurped NATO cannon fodder plus the mercenaries, anybody who does accept or even support this is a war criminal and must be judged and severely punished as such.

ONLY USING WORDS AGAINST THEIR WEAPONS?

I'm against capital punishment, but life time in jail with hard labor is the least they and their propagandists everywhere on earth should get. If the criminals can survive the justified global anger, the mushrooming resistance and cry for revenge. Like many the world over I'm also getting moral problems about only using words against their weapons. When the US/CIA with its international collaborators 'suicided' democratically elected president Salvador Allende of Chile and the dreams of the Chilean people in September 1973, killing and torturing them for more than thirty years, I was living there until I was declared 'Persona non Grata' in July 1974. And I learned that it's better to die standing on your feet than to live in abject slavery on your knees.

But those criminals which are killing millions of us will only be stopped (and jailed) thanks to all our united and raised voices and more information which will make the - according to for instance the Geneva Conventions - fully legal resistance against 'them' further grow. This resistance is not only a legal right but also a plight. It also means that the US population has the biggest responsibility right now to immediately stop this racket and jail the responsible crooks. Of all and double nationalities...and before they kill the rest of us too in their mad quest for world dominance with brutal power and profit

And that means spreading a lot of information which never anywhere was in our history books but can be checked and relayed via Internet and good sites like these. So fight for Internet too. Every day. I've read that sixty-four-thousand blogs an hour enlarge this huge library in cyberspace, and the tsunami of anger will flatten those warlords. I'm today for instance writing this in The Netherlands, but know it can be read as soon as it is published on my blog and via other Internet sites from the North Cape to Cape Town and from Hiroshima to Honolulu. And as I always said: if only 25 of the people who can read this will understand what's the gist of the matter, what's happening to their lives, it will be a good day.

EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING TO TELL AND EVERYBODY IS A REPORTER

Because on Internet nearly all people with own views, experiences and knowledge try to describe in their own way the reality as they see it and can phrase it. Everybody has something to tell and everybody is a reporter I've learned in my life as an independent professional journalist/correspondent. One learns more every day, and can give facts with often personal information, inform about a reality which mostly isn't in line with the ideas of the lies of the managers of the juntas who say "We are an Empire and create our own reality." The by them created 'reality' is not for human beings but only for this group of insane 'humanoids'. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/v49l3

Spread information about the US junta's aims and finances and help each other to end the sick ideas the 'crazies' have. Those 'humanoids' and their collaborators fight back however: many of all the 'good' people are silenced, and quite some of my friends are killed too.

The - as far as is known - latest one in The Netherlands, Louis Sévèke, was one of the last journalist/researchers of Dutch secret services and the by them produced 'state terror'. Sévèke wrote about the direct need to open the books concerning their home made terror groups and the weapons they for instance had given the so called Hofstad terror group. That's one of the 'boogeymen' started by the Dutch secret service AIVD, (Algemene Inlichtingen en Veiligheids Dienst) to falsely scare the 16 million inhabitants of this small but very rich US manager's colony. In Holland it's the same: so called terror is made themselves by those who profit in the US and other countries. Colleague Louis Sévèke was professionally shot with two bullets into the head 14 months ago and 300 meters from where this is written. The killer of course is never 'found' and the faked 'investigation' is a shame for anybody involved. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ymgg98

But 'they' keep on killing journalists all over the world who investigate and ask questions about their systematic slaughter. One of the latest being US journalist/lawyer Paul Sandford who apparently was 'suicided'. The junta with it's professional murderers will kill anybody who is 'a bump in the road to their BIS bank', in many personal cases making it look like suicide or just declaring it 'suicide'. Even when they are shot with two bullets into the head...

The US with it's junta fascism is like many other countries where they rule a totalitarian state and the killers think they can get away with those inhuman actions by declaring it necessary 'for national security' or on 'Presidential Order'. - [http://tinyurl.com/yg7us2]

But one of the main things the managers of those inhuman juntas and their vile collaborators abhor is publicity.

LIKE ALL THIEVES IN THE NIGHT THEY SHUN THE LIGHT.

It's one of the reasons I think, that people like Chomsky, Zinn, Hitchens, Fisk, Pilger etc. - and however OK they may be on other items, can not or will not 'follow the money' to find the real crooks. They can only write about the mass of manure and how it stinks, but never about the elephant in the room, the London warlords' economic and global holocaust-system.

Take Noam Chomsky who in some form of alibi was allowed to publish a lot of - what we think - are critical views. But who has in reality for 30 years and more been 'build and made' by one of the biggest defense-contractors of the US junta and its military-industrial-political complex, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. And their own media enforce the standing of those ghostwriters. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/dnn8m

But I sincerely hope there's nobody around who thinks that you keep somebody like Chomsky, a jester at their court, for twenty-three years on the payroll if he doesn't do a good job? For them?

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT BAD: THEY ARE MADE BAD

Any human being that's ever held a newborn baby and saw it grow up knows: we human beings all over the world are not born bad: we are made bad in many cases. Some of us are brainwashed into Golems for their war machine. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/33a4fd.

The world is not divided in 'left' or 'right', and in the US there is absolutely NO difference whatsoever between the Golems called Democrats or Republicans, but the world we live in is divided in 'givers' and 'takers'. The Dems and Reps - including poisonous Pelosi and her clique - have with very few exceptions ALL voted for the US junta, the shredding of any social fabric left and it's war and embezzling plans against the US population and us in the rest of the world. They voted many times to enforce and realize the 'Project for a Nefarious American Cemetery' - the PNAC. With 9/11 as the trigger, their new 'Pearl Harbor'. They profit from it, that's the money trail to be followed.

THE US JUNTA AND ITS MANAGERS ARE THE 'TAKERS' AND THEY WILL USE ANYTHING FROM MEDIA TO MURDER TO SOW HATRED AND CONFUSION ANYWHERE, AND PROFIT FROM IT.

And believe me, they hate it when we shine the light on their inhuman malpractices.

Those who are responsible for all humanity's misery and those collaborating with those humanoids are all guilty of war crimes and must be jailed for their deeds. Fast! And in whatever way possible be stopped. Whatever nationality or whatever they claim to be. And especially the former 'journalists' those turncoat traitors, the Judas pundits and infiltraitors (pun intended) which turned out to be dirty propagandists who keep fertilizing all the junta's battlefields with their miserable media manure.

Without their horrible and brainwashing lies, and their despicable help to the London war lords and their juntas, the ongoing slaughter and genocides for world dominance, controlling energy sources and thus profit of us human beings, without any of those propagandists all this would never have been possible.

NEVER!

Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF - RELATED LINKS:

* 'US FASCISM: 'MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Harriet Washington: "Medical Apartheid"

2007-01-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

Most of us will know about Nazi Dr. Mengele and his medical experiments on prisoners, but the now published book "Medical Apartheid" shows very well documented that there have been and most certainly are hundreds if not thousands of 'Mengeles' active in the United States and in many other countries around the world.

All seeem to be torturers who have forgotten their oath of Hippocrates when they swear "to help people and above all do no harm..."

Quote: “Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present” is the first and only comprehensive history of medical experimentation, abuse and neglect of African Americans.

The book reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and the roots of the African American health deficit. It begins with the earliest encounters of blacks and the medical establishment during slavery, looks at how eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify medical experiments conducted by the government and the military - and offers new details about the infamous Tuskegee Experiments that began in the 1930’s.

“Medical Apartheid” also examines less well-known abuses and looks at unethical practices and mistreatment of blacks that are still taking place in the medical establishment today.

With us now is the Author of the book - Harriet Washington. She is a medical writer and editor - and a visiting Scholar at DePaul University School of Law.

*Harriet Washington is a medical writer and editor. She is a visiting Scholar at DePaul University School of Law. Previously she was a Fellow in Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School and at Stanford University. She is the author of the new book, “Medical Apartheid.”

Have a look and read more:

Video and transcript at DemocracyNow - Url.: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/19/1432231

Strongly related:

* THE US TORTURE DEBATE - WHITE COATS SMEARED WITH BLOOD... - Url.: http://forpressfound.blogspot.com/2005/12/us-torture-debate-white-coats-smeared.html

* R.I.P. HABEAS CORPUS & POWERLESS JUDGES - ARE WE ENTERING AMERICA'S DARKEST HOUR? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Doomsday Clock moved two minutes closer to midnight

2007-01-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

by Mark Bridge

DOOMSDAY TIMELINE SINCE 1947

Times Online - January 17, 2007 - The keepers of the so-called Doomsday Clock, which counts down to Armageddon, today moved its hands closer to midnight for the first time in four years to reflect the growing threats to mankind from nuclear proliferation and climate change.

In a ceremony hosted by the British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, the minute hand was moved forwards by two minutes to stand at five minutes to midnight - the closest it has come to midnight since the Cold War arms race of the 1980s.

The decision by the directors of the Bulletin of the the Atomic Scientists was made in consultation with the Bulletin's Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel laureates.

THE BAS SAID THAT THE WORLD FACED ITS MOST CRITICAL CHOICES SINCE THE BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

"We stand at the brink of a Second Nuclear Age. Not since the first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has the world faced such perilous choices," it said.

"North Korea’s recent test of a nuclear weapon, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a renewed emphasis on the military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately secure nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia are symptomatic of a failure to solve the problems posed by the most destructive technology on Earth."

The BAS statement continues: "The dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons. The effects may be less dramatic in the short term than the destruction that could be wrought by nuclear explosions, but over the next three to four decades climate change could cause irremediable harm to the habitats upon which human societies depend for survival."

Professor Hawking, the Cambridge physicist best known for his book A Brief History of Time, said: "As scientists, we understand the dangers of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects, and we are learning how human activities and technologies are affecting climate systems in ways that may forever change life on Earth. As citizens of the world, we have a duty to alert the public to the unnecessary risks that we live with every day, and to the perils we foresee if governments and societies do not take action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and to prevent further climate change."

Since 1947 the clock, with midnight representing nuclear apocalypse, has appeared on the cover of the Bulletin magazine, which was founded by University of Chicago physicists alarmed about the dangers of the nuclear age.

THE MINUTE HAND WAS LAST MOVED IN FEBRUARY 2002, WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FORWARD BY TWO MINUTES, TO SEVEN MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, AFTER THE US ANNOUNCED PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY.

Today's shift forward marks a rapid decline in international nuclear relations since the 1990s, when the minute hand stood at 17 and 14 minutes to midnight in a post-Cold War thaw.

The closest the clock has come to midnight is just two minutes away. That was in 1953, when the US and the Soviet Union tested thermonuclear devices within nine months of each other.

[andend] - Url.: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-3-2552348-3,00.html

FPF-fwd. & links:

* Bulletin of the the Atomic Scientists - Url.: http://www.thebulletin.org/

* MAKING THE US JUNTA'S DICTATOR/DECIDER - ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* US JUNTA FASCISM: CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! - (But you let it happen!) - Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* US JUNTA FASCISM: WHEN YOU EXTERMINATIE HUMAN BEINGS WITH NUCLEAR BOMBS, WHERE DOES ALL THEIR WEALTH GO? - There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* US JUNTA FASCISM: R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* US JUNTA FASCISM: THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* US JUNTA FASCISM: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* US JUNTA FASCISM: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST SCAM EVER IN HUMAN HISTORY: 'THE FED' - 'Responsible' only to the 'Bank of International Settlements' (BIS - see above) in Switzerland - Url.: http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/FEDERALRESERVE.HTML

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

FPF-Fwd. Paul C. Roberts - Bush must go

2007-01-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

When are the American people and their representatives in Congress and the military going to wake up and realize that the US has an insane war criminal in the White House who is destroying all chances for peace in the world and establishing a police state in the US?

NEWS YOU WON'T FIND ON CNN

BUSH MUST GO

Only Impeachment Can Stop Him

By Paul Craig Roberts*

01/15/07 "Information Clearing House" - Americans don’t have much time to realize this and to act before it is too late. Bush’s “surge” speech last Wednesday night makes it completely clear that his real purpose is to start wars with Iran and Syria before failure in Iraq brings an end to the neoconservative/Israeli plan to establish hegemony over the Middle East.

The “surge” gives Congress, the media, and the foreign policy establishment something to debate and oppose, while Bush sets his plans in motion to orchestrate a war with Iran. Suddenly, we are hearing Bush regime propaganda that there are Iranian networks operating within Iraq that are working with the Iraqi insurgency and killing US troops.

This assertion is a lie and preposterous on its face. Iranian Shi’ites are not going to arm Iraqi Sunnis, who are more focused on killing Iraqi Shi’ites allied with Iran than on killing US troops. If the Iranians wanted to cause the US trouble in Iraq, they would encourage Iraqi Shi’ites to join the insurgency against US forces. An insurgency drawn from 80% of the Iraqi population would overwhelm the US forces.

CBS reports that the news organization has been told by US officials “that American forces have begun an aggressive and mostly secret ground campaign against networks of Iranians that had been operating with virtual impunity inside Iraq.” To manufacture evidence in behalf of this lie to feed to the gullible American public, US forces invaded an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq and kidnapped 5 consulate officials, claiming the Iranians were part of plans “to kill Americans.” In typical Orwellian fashion, Secretary of State Condi Rice described Bush’s aggression against Iran as designed to confront Tehran’s aggression.

REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH BUSH’S PROPAGANDA PLOY

Iraqi government officials in the Kurdish province and the Iraqi foreign minister have refused to go along with Bush’s propaganda ploy. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced that the Iranian officials were no threat and were working in a liaison office that had Iraqi government approval and was in the process of being elevated into a consulate.

The Iraqi foreign minister said that US troops tried to seize more innocent people at the Irbil airport but were prevented by Kurdish troops.

The Kurds, of course, have been allies of the US forces, but Bush is willing to alienate the Kurds in the interest of provoking a war with Iran.

If Bush is unable to orchestrate war with Iran directly, he will orchestrate war indirectly by having US troops attack Iraqi Shi’ite militias. Bush has already given orders for US troops to attack the Iraqi Shi’ite militias, who oppose the Sunnis and have not been part of the insurgency. Obviously, once Bush can get US troops in open warfare with Iraqi Shi’ites, the situation for US troops in Iraq will quickly go down hill. Bush will be able to blame Iranian Shi’ites for arming Iraqi Shi’ites that he can say are killing US troops.

Bush has also ordered the Persian Gulf to be congested with TWO US aircraft carrier attack groups. There is no military or diplomatic reason for even one attack group to be in the Persian Gulf. If Bush fails to orchestrate a war with Iran by kidnapping its officials or by attacking Shi’ite militias, he can orchestrate an event like the Tonkin Gulf incident or have the Israelis pull another USS Liberty incident and blame the Iranians.

The Tonkin Gulf incident was used by the Johnson administration to deceive Congress and to involve the US in the Vietnam war. Johnson alleged a North Vietnamese attack on US warships.

In 1967 Israel attacked and destroyed the US intelligence ship Liberty, because Liberty’s crew had picked up proof that Israel had initiated the war with Egypt and intended to attack Syria the next day (http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/margolis12.html).

SOME HAVE SPECULATED THAT ISRAELIS HOPED THEIR ATTACK ON THE LIBERTY COULD BE BLAMED ON EGYPT AND USED TO DRAW THE US INTO THE WAR AGAINST EGYPT.

In 2003 the Moorer Commission [see http://www.ussliberty.org/report/report.pdf and http://www.ussliberty.org/moorerfindings.htm], headed by Admiral Tom Moorer, former Chief of Naval Operations and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, concluded:

“That in attacking the USS Liberty, Israel committed acts of murder against American servicemen and an act of war against the United States.”

“That fearing conflict with Israel, the White House deliberately prevented the U.S. Navy from coming to the defense of USS Liberty.”

“the Captain and surviving crew members were later threatened with court-martial, imprisonment or worse if they exposed the truth; and were abandoned by their own government.”

“That due to the influence of Israel’s powerful supporters in the United States, the White House deliberately covered up the facts of this attack from the American people.”

“That a danger to our national security exists whenever our elected officials are willing to subordinate American interests to those of any foreign nation, and specifically are unwilling to challenge Israel’s interests when they conflict with American interests.”

On the 30th anniversary of Israel’s destruction of the liberty, Admiral Moorer said that Israel attacked the Liberty because Israel knew that the intelligence ship could intercept Israel’s plans to seize the Golan Heights from Syria, an act of Israeli aggression to which the US government was opposed. Admiral Moorer said, “I believe Moshe Dayan concluded that he could prevent Washington from becoming aware of what Israel was up to by destroying the primary source of acquiring that information--the US Liberty.

MACHINE GUNS ALSO WERE TURNED ON LIFE RAFTS

Moorer reports that after a 25 minute air attack “that pounded the Liberty with bombs, rockets, napalm and machine gun fire . . . three Israeli torpedo boats closed in for the kill . . . the torpedo boats’ machine guns also were turned on life rafts that were deployed into the Mediterranean as well as those few on deck that had escaped damage.”

Admiral Moorer says, “What is so chilling and cold-blooded, of course, is that they [Israel] could kill as many Americans as they did in confidence that Washington would cooperate in quelling any public outcry.” [see http://www.ussliberty.org/moorer3.htm]

The US invasion of Iraq and the looming US attack on Iran are proof that Israel has even more power over the White House today.

Bush has many ways to widen his war in the Middle East. His brutal aggression against Somalia has largely escaped criticism for the war crime that it is. On January 11 the US National Intelligence Director told Congress that Hezbollah in Lebanon may be the next US threat. Just as he lied to the entire world about Saddam Hussein and Iraq, Bush is lying about Iran. Bush and the neoconservatives are frantic for war with Iran to get underway before the US Congress forces a US withdrawal from the failed adventure in Iraq.

BUSH’S ENTIRE “WAR ON TERROR” IS BASED ON LIES.

The Bush Regime, desperate to keep its lies covered up, is now trying to prevent American law firms from defending the Guantanamo detainees. The Bush Regime is fearful that Americans will learn that the detainees are not terrorists but props in the regime’s orchestrated “terror war.”

On January 13 the New York Times (editorial) said that “Cully Stimson, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs, tried to rally American corporations to stop doing business with law firms that represent inmates of the Guantanamo internment camp.” Stimson alleged that it was “shocking” that American law firms were “representing detainees down there.” He suggested that when corporate America got word of if, “those C.E.O.’s are going to make those law firms choose between representing terrorists or representing reputable firms. We want to watch that play out.”

The only reason for the Bush Regime’s policy of indefinite detention without charges is that it has no charges to bring. The detainees are not terrorists. They are the Bush Regime’s props in a fake war that serves as cover for the Regime’s hegemonic policy in the Middle East.

The only action that can stop Bush is for both the Democratic and Republican leadership of the House and Senate to call on the White House, tell Bush they know what he is up to and that they will not fall for it a second time. The congressional leadership must tell Bush that if he does not immediately desist, he will be impeached and convicted before the week is out.

CAN A CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP THAT LIVES IN FEAR OF THE ISRAEL LOBBY PERFORM THIS TASK?

All the rest is penny-ante. Revoking the Iraqi War Resolution as Rep. Sam Farr has proposed or requiring Bush to obtain congressional authorization prior to any US attack on Iran simply lets Bush and his Federalist Society apologists for executive dictatorship claim he has commander-in-chief powers and proceed with his planned aggression. Cutting off funding is not itself enough as Bush can raid other budgets. Non-binding resolutions of disapproval are meaningless to a president who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.

Nothing can stop the criminal Bush from instituting wider war in the Middle East that could become a catastrophic world war except an unequivocal statement from Congress that he will be impeached.

Bush has made the US into a colony of Israel. The US is incurring massive debt and loss of both life and reputation in order to silence Muslim opposition to Israel’s theft of Palestine and the Golan Heights. That is what the “war on terror” is about.

PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

Paul Craig Roberts is an economist and a nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate. He served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration. He is a former editor and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and Scripps Howard News Service. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

Click to read or post comments - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16175.htm

RELATED REFERENCES & LINKS:

* "Sarah, if the American people had ever known the truth about what we Bushes have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - George Bush Senior speaking in an interview with Sarah McClendon in December 1992. - And here's why: 'George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography' - by Webster G. Tarpley & Anton Chaitkin - Chapter - II - The Hitler Project - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/57qxk

* FOX: Video 49 min. - The example how viewers are brainwashed and 'outfoxed' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/b2zzl

* Google search "Biggest threat to world peace" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/dk2lj

* MSNBC - Live Vote: Do you believe President Bush's actions justify impeachment? - Url.: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/

* "People do not forget. They do not forget the death of their fellows, they do not forget torture and mutilation, they do not forget injustice, they do not forget oppression, they do not forget the terrorism of mighty powers. They not only don't forget: they also strike back." - 2005 Nobel Literature Prize winner Harold Pinter - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/9cyeq

* The Nuremberg principles: "Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefor and liable to punishment." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/byurp

* 'The war in Iraq is illegal' - BBC: video & text-interview of the United Nation's Secretary General Kofi Annan - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/5pl2v

* 'Spreading democracy' - Countries & US Death Squads - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/drnca - A 55' second sound bite concerning the US 'bringing democracy' everywhere - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/5u98v

* HOME MADE US TERROR: Al Qaeda – The Database - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqx69

* Who's financing? - The 'Federal Reserve' and it's usurers is the absolute biggest crime against all humanity ever. - Url.: http://www.apfn.org/apfn/reserve.htm

* 'Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one' — A.J. Liebling - The merciless engine of propaganda has been turned on: The infamous US 'Lie Factory' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/8ncal

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

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FPF-fwd. Jim Kirwan - When 'The System' Fails!

2007-01-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

"The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government they will cease to exist. It is absurd to call this voluntary." US Congressman Ron Paul.

WHEN 'THE SYSTEM' FAILS!

by Jim Kirwan

Jan. 16th - 2007 - Six long years have produced too many anniversaries that mark too many crimes against the rules of law, against whatever remains of human justice, and against all that once represented civilized behavior. Guantanemo Bay just passed its five year anniversary that celebrates mindless brutality and torture wherein no person has been charged with any crime-yet the Decider has decided that he is now the sole director for all political power in this country and the world.

The role of Commander-in-Chief is a sub-text for the office of the presidency of the United States - during a time of war. It cannot be isolated to serve as the licensing authority for a Dictator who no longer answers to the Congress or to the people that the congress supposedly represents. The Decider does not have the mental or physical capacity to be an all-knowing leader of anything at all, much less so when he becomes just another belligerent Outlaw-claiming the right to use the wealth and power of the United States as his private weapons against the people of the USA and the world.

Congress has the sole power to make war according to the Constitution. The office of the president within the administrative branch, serves ONLY to carry out that function within the laws of the United States. Contrary to what Cheney says: There are no other legal courses of action available to the self-appointed Decider-because while Bush may currently be 'the president'-his job is to enforce only the legal dictates of the congress of the United States. That function Bush has perverted to serve his supporters-at the expense of every legality-to use the resources and the wealth of this country for illegal and obscene acts of treason while trying to crush this nation and imprison at least a third of the rest of the world in the process.

MUTINY BY THE CHENEY-BUSH LEADERSHIP AGAINST THE PEOPLE

Congress is searching for something that will allow them to resolve this nightmare without taking any chances. This mutiny by the Cheney-Bush leadership against the people of this country must be faced-either now or in the very near future. Congress is hunting for legislative ways to block the Decider from doing what he's decided to do-but there is no easy way to stop these Outlaws-they must be impeached. The General Accounting Office has found that nine billion dollars of the money appropriated under Iraqi secret no-bid contracts, has "disappeared." This alone is enough to remove Cheney (as his companies were the major recipients of those funds), from his duties while an intensive Congressional investigation goes forward (1).

There is legal-prescident for such actions because Vice-President Spiro Agnew, a much smaller criminal in the Nixon administration, was forced from office on much less serious charges. Congress needs to stop making "gestures" and begin to ACT like the authority that they are. The Constitution is very clear about how out-of-control government officials, especially presidents, must be removed: and we are out-of-time! There is no way that congress can continue to 'play-it-safe' if there is to be a country after this constitutional standoff-which can only happen if Congress and the Supreme Court own up to what they contributed to enable 'The Decider' to become who he says he is today!

None of this would be happening if the congress had not illegally given their powers to the executive, when they gave the Decider his License-to-Kill. This could also have been prevented if the Congress had ruled on the intervention of the US Supreme Court when they virtually appointed Bush on 12-12-2000. But that's history and the nation cannot 'move-forward' until these illegalities have been rectified. Congress must declare the Commander-in-Chief's recent decision to send more troops to Iraq as a violation of the will of the people of the United States at whose pleasure both he and congress serve! There must be a congressional vote on the War in Iraq, a binding censor on the decider's mutiny - after which the money needed to continue the illegal wars of conquest would be legally withheld, thus allowing the troops to return home.

THE DECIDER WANTS TO WIDEN THE AREAS OF CONFLICT

As for a plan that offers "another way" such as Cheney is demanding in lieu of altering the course of the War-on-Iraq, Cheney and the Congress might want to consider this. In a sane world, where all our allies are leaving us alone to fight the War-on-Iraq, and where the entire region of the Middle-East is now virtually on the edge of a massive melt-down-this nation should be proposing a Regional Summit-Conference to end the violence and re-establish international law. That suggestion must be accompanied by an American withdrawal from Iraq, to assure the participants that we are serious. Instead the Decider wants to widen the areas of conflict to insure that WAR becomes the only answer for every dispute. Under Cheney-Bush there can be no "way-forward" that does not call for ever-wider wars on yet more countries where all our plans for other people are still unacceptable. By every measure the path selected in Iraq, by the Decider and his thugs, is WRONG!

However there is also a home-front battle against the public, being waged by the newly Democratic majority who just passed the National I.D. Card Act - something which the government says is voluntary, but which is something that can only be understood as extorting compliance to a travesty of freedom - played out against a backdrop of special privilege vs. being cut-off from the natural rights of citizenship - in the name of National Security!

"The National ID is of paramount concern to those of us who refuse to be tagged and numbered like animals. Many do not want to comply, but don't know what to do as an individual. First, this national identification is voluntary, not mandatory for the individual. However, the sinister and devious minions behind the scenes who write this legislation for our corrupt Congress added some provisions they hope will force Americans to surrender, i.e. you won't be able to fly on commercial planes, ride on Amtrak or enter a federal building. You see, these areas are under the control of the federal fist and they are counting on enough Americans who don't know what this new law says, will simply comply in order to hop on a plane or train to see grandma or for a business requirement:

"Supporters claim it is not a national ID because it is voluntary. However, any state that opts out will automatically make non-persons out of its citizens. The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government they will cease to exist. It is absurd to call this voluntary." Congressman Ron Paul on HR 418 "
THIS IS A METAPHORICAL GUN-TO-THE-HEAD FOR ANYONE UNWILLING TO ACCEDE TO THE PARANOIA OF HOMELAND IN-SECURITY AND ALL ITS ATTENDANT THUGERY (2).

The key to dissolving these kinds of cages into which the public is being driven, by this Outlaw-government, is to expose the events of 911 for what they actually were-the most massive civil crime against the nation, carried out by those who have profited most directly from every implication that has followed from that event.* Still there is no real intent by the new congress to attempt to investigate the truth of 911 - because the truth would shatter this bubble of fear which the Outlaws have been steadily constructing since that dark September morning back in 2001.

Add to this the formation of the NAU (North American Union), and its founding documents along with the Council on Foreign Relations. This unification of Mexico, the US and Canada is well along on its way to becoming an actual fact. This program is not secret-yet the media continues to withhold all information about the pending dissolution of this country or the formation of the NAU (3).

'Supporting-the-Troops' is a callous excuse to continue the war, when what is needed is something to insure that this nation does not continue to slaughter people without due cause (4). No one asked the USA to police-the-world, but like the death toll between the two Bush-league-presidents, father & son together have slaughtered or starved twelve million Iraqi's since 1991. Because under US intelligence and black-ops directives, ninety percent of the crimes committed by Saddam Hussein must also be added to this total number of people killed for no reason except for the political intrigues of the few that are determined to 'own the Middle-East' and all its resources.

DICTATORSHIP BY AN OUT-OF-CONTROL AND UNSOUND MIND, WITH MEGA-SERIOUS-CRIMINAL INTENT!

The title of Commander-in-Chief gets its authority, directly from the Constitution, but to be legal the office of the presidency must conform throughout to the desires of the people and the congress of the United States-because to do what the Decider is now doing-amounts to a unilaterally declared Dictatorship by an out-of-control and unsound mind, with mega-serious-criminal intent! Congress did not intend to create a Dictator it only intended to facilitate a war that we now know was based solely on lies from its inception to the present moment. This is yet another crime of treason against the country and against the millions of people whose lives this administration has so carelessly destroyed-including Americans!

It should be noted that it took Cheney-Bush about two months to come up with this latest insult to the intelligence of the world. If this "way-forward" was so important why did it take our national poster-boy for personal incompetence two full months to decide to go against every other considered course of action? Why did his address to the public include threatening Iran and Syria as well as Lebanon and Palestine instead of finding real ways to end the war? The US elections were about ending the war, and finding new directions in Iraq. However the Decider told the world, in his distorted form of speech, that everyone else was wrong and that he would be going forward - 'Staying the Course,' with additional troops, instead of seeking any other way to begin to change anything about his course in the region. In other words he basically told the world that he, George W. Bush is now officially the first self-declared dictator of the USA.

DICTATORS HAVE A NOTORIOUSLY SHORT LIFETIME

If congress will not act forcefully and very soon to stop this insanity-then we shall all shortly become far more deeply immersed in that 'unending war' that Cheney-Bush seem so to be so fondly starting, once again! Dictators have a notoriously short lifetime in this world-just as do thoroughly corrupt politicians when as public servants they are caught in the public spotlight of corruption. Americans need to resist the current mutiny coming from the Oval Office just as we need to reject the National I.D. Card Act. Moreover, Congress needs to stop wasting the public's time and do the hard things NOW!

JIM KIRWAN

Kirwan's home page - Url.: http://www.kirwanesque.com/

Email: kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net

1) US lost track of nine billion for Iraq's reconstruction - Url.: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1332676/posts

2) The National I.D. Card - Url.: http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd242

3) Pretext for the North American Union - Url.: http://prisonplanet.com:80/articles/january2007/110107pretext.htm

4) Garrison Keillor - Time for the father to have a chat with the son - Url.: http://www.smirkingchimp.com/node/4429/print

Fwd. by FPF + links:

Good story on the dangers of US ID slavery, and the situation - especially here in Europe - is not funny at all if you look at it - Url.: http://www.salars.net/wordpress/2006/12/20/electronic-control-is-slave-trade/#more-130

* PREMONITIONS TEND TO OCCUR BEFORE DISASTERS AND DEATHS. - GEORGE W. BUSH: "IF THIS WERE A DICTATORSHIP, IT'D BE A HECK OF A LOT EASIER, JUST AS LONG AS I'M THE DICTATOR." - (Easier for whom?) - December 18, 2000 - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/v2yo6

* DICTATOR: FRONT-MAN 'BUSHOLINI' IN THE US - A malignant ruler with absolute power and authority, especially one who exercises this power and authority tyrannically. In Bush' case after an illegitimate seizure of power through vote fraud etc. - Chaplin picture: world hegemony - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yltgbz

* HOMELAND SECURITY? FOR WHOM? - Double nationality Secretary Michael Chertoff's lawless Gestapos roam and try to control the US populace, including the terrorizing of us in the US junta's colonies and fiefdoms. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yaow2r

* R.I.P. HABEAS CORPUS & POWERLESS JUDGES - ARE WE ENTERING AMERICA'S DARKEST HOUR? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE - Your bicycle is a four cilinder, isn't it? - A 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

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'Terrorists' attack US embassy in Athens: CIA 'investigates'?

2007-01-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

An explosive this morning hit the United States embassy in the Greek capital Athens, with little damage but leaving a lot of question marks. Nobody got injured. The day and night heavily by Marines guarded US embassy and all streets surrounding it normally are impossible to approach.

THE MAN WHO HAS THE ANSWERS IS NOT TALKING

by Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent

FPF - Europe - Jan. 12th 2007 - The Greek news agency published about the attack on the US embassy in Athens as follows: A strong blast was reported shortly before 6 a.m. (4 a.m. GMT) at the US embassy in central Athens, with Greek authorities now investigating inside the compound, according to the US ambassador." - Normally 'local authorities' are never allowed into any embassy area. A foreign embassy is 'extra-territorial'.

What outside US embassy circles now is discussed is the question how anybody ever could come close enough to the US embassy at number 91 in the Vasilissis Sophias Avenue? Where for the past decades Greek special police, US Marines, guns, sniffer dogs and cameras have guarded the US embassy and the buildings around as some Fort Knox? Afraid of attacks by Greek and other people who for decades sincerely have disliked the US policy and what they have done to their country.

Which with a CIA coup and the Greek 'colonels junta' was turned into a US colony and NATO base because it's strategically too very important for the US junta's quest for hegemony. But this 'terrorist attack' looks as suspicious as is possible, since only people connected or invited to the guarded US embassy can get anywhere close. No evidence - fake or real - has turned up yet. And it can't as usual be blamed on the 'November 17' (N-17) guerilla because the 'authorities' said they dismantled it.* But after forty years of US ruling still the Greek people keep saying - like most in the world - that Bush and Blair are the 'Butchers of Baghdad' and the US junta and it's war machine - including the UN plus NATO's troops and mercenaries - represent the real terrorists. Which is totally correct of course.

The fact that US ambassador and Bush friend Ries immediately after the blast confirmed that the attack 'came from the outside' left the question unanswered how any person even could get close enough to throw a Molotov cocktail across the embassy's 3 meters (10 ft) high fences or carry around and shoot some kind of missile? "There is no justification for such an act of violence," Ries said and added that it was a "very serious" incident." Which may be used to further restrict what's left of civil liberties in this US colony with it's for freedom fighting people. [I've visited friends in Greece for decades. - HR] The US even was running secret jails of the American Gulag on military bases in Greece. - Url.: www.apfn.net/messageboard/ 01-06-06/discussion.cgi.72.html

THE ANSWERS...

It looks like the 'attack' on the US embassy as usual has been a 'false flag' operation by the US 'special ops forces' to divert global attention from the lost war in Iraq and the US junta's preparations to activate another 'false flag' operation to be able to start a nuclear war with Iran. ['False flag' - Google - http://tinyurl.com/ta9fl] - Never telling the people they brainwash that Iran is very much bigger in population and surface. And has bought arms for billions of oil money. And has been permanently controlled by the US via satellites too.* Now the Gulf is full of US warships and those of collaborating countries like Holland, waiting for the US orchestrated 'incident' to blind and brainwash people again. Like after the 9/11 'inside job', another US home made 'Pearl Harbor' as US commentator Roberts writes.*

THE SILENT CIA MAN

The man who has the answers and is not saying anything, is Thomas Countryman, at present the NSA/CIA liaison in Athens and as number 2 the 'policy officer' at the US embassy. Countryman learned most of his CIA tricks in the major CIA institute in the Arab world, situated in Tunisia in North Africa. As an independent foreign correspondent I had to know and knew also people at the US embassy, where I normally was invited during those years. And also of course by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) with the by the Israeli Mossad poisoned Chairman Yasser Arafat and his doomed cooperators as well.*

Thomas Countryman was in Tunis in 1990/'91 and studied for a year at the CIA 'spy school' in Sidi Bou Said. He often ate his lunches at a small restaurant called 'La Bagatelle', on the other side of the street. I lived in Sidi Bou Said and very often lunched in 'La Bagatelle' too, in this very picturesque village on the beaches of the Mediterranean. [Sidi Bou Said Pics - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/vdhe9]

In his official bio at says "From 1988 to 1990, Mr. Countryman studied Arabic language and culture at the Department's Foreign Service Institute in Virginia for one year, followed by a year at the Institute's field school in Tunis." At the embassy in Athens his function is described as Deputy Chief of Mission. Meaning he is the man in charge of overall security.

THE CIA TRAINING CENTER

As one of the last foreign correspondents I was declared 'persona non grata' and forced to leave the country July 31st in 1996. - [http://tinyurl.com/rw6o3 ] - A week after I arrived on 7 November 1987, coup general and president Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, the present military ruler of Tunisia, with american help took the power from old and ailing president Habib Bourguiba. The country which is an american colony, had, and apparently still has, the biggest secret Middle East 'CIA Arabic training center' in coastal Sidi Bou Said, 17 kilometers from the capital Tunis. The 'school' is next door to the US ambassadors residence, and can be seen from the terrace during receptions. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/585dc ]

According to Countryman's cv: "He has been Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Athens, Greece since September 2005. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he served as the Political-Military Officer at the American Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. From 1991 to 1993, he was the senior officer for reporting on political, security, and religious affairs within Egypt. In 1993 and 1994, Mr. Countryman worked in the State Department's Office of Counter-Terrorism, where he helped to achieve passage of a UN Security Council resolution on bringing to justice the suspects in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103."

THE BOMBING OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103

The last sentence again shows that Thomas Countryman is one of those fishy CIA characters. It didn't matter that Scotland Yard said that he and his CIA/FBI buddies falsified the evidence in the Lockerbie trial. A miscarriage of justice if there ever was one which was an eternal shame and mockery concerning human rights and justice. But Countryman 'helped' to bring the patsies to the Scottish kangoroo court. Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6mujq

Apart from the absolutely mad US junta's preparations for an attack on Iran - and if they still can, later on oil rich and close Venezuela - there are other protests they want to stop. Groups in Greece and the rest of Europe have to be silenced because they decided two weeks ago that coming 9th-11th February in Warsaw in Poland they'll hold an 'International Gathering To Prepare The Protests Against The G8-Summit 2007' to discuss the actions against the G-8 meeting in Rostock in Germany later this year. According to my point of view - working at a 15 minutes drive from the Dutch/German border - Germany and its policy under US stooge and PM Angela Merkel has become the murkil of the US junta in Europe.

Again in November last year, Greek riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators marching to the US embassy in Athens who chanted slogans including "Bush the butcher, out of Iraq" and "The USA is the real terrorist". And Washington's junta abhors their very appropriate slogan: "To those who wants to dominate the world, the world responds: RESISTANCE!"

But, as with a lot of irony can be said, it's good to know that the investigation is in the hands of qualified people...

Who are specially trained for these kind of 'terrorist attacks'.

By the CIA...

HENK RUYSSENAARS

REFERENCES + LINKS:

UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO GREECE CHARLES P. RIES - Url.: http://athens.usembassy.gov/about_us/ambassador.htm

US DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION - THOMAS M. COUNTRYMAN - Url.: http://athens.usembassy.gov/about_us/dcm.htm

DISTRACTING CONGRESS FROM THE REAL WAR PLAN - By Paul Craig Roberts - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16121.htm

IRAN HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY CONTROLLED BY THE US - Url.: http://www.countercurrents.org/us-henk160805.htm

LOCKERBIE : 2.7 BILLION $ SHAM AND SHAME - "This has been a political court case, where the verdict already was decided upon in advance" Prof. H. Köchler the UN observer said. - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4460.htm

INTERNATIONAL GATHERING TO PREPARE THE PROTESTS AGAINST THE G8-SUMMIT 200 - Url.: http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/129

ONE MORE IMPOSED FRIENDSHIP OF WAR - Picture Greek police guarding the National Assembly against the people - Url.: http://www.resistance2003.gr/en/news/story.php?id=97

NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREEK LANGUAGE IS NEEDED FOR THE PICTURES: GREEK POLICE IN ACTION - Url.: http://www.2007-g8.tk/

US AND NOVEMBER 17TH: ACCORDING TO THE CIA VIA THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS November 17, Revolutionary People’s Struggle (Greece, leftists) - Url.: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9275/#1

THE ISRAELI SECRET SERVICE MOSSAD POISONED PLO LEADER ARAFAT. - Url.: http://forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/11/israel-poisoned-arafat.html

WHERE'S THE OIL IN IRAN? IS IT REALLY BIGGER THAN IRAQ? - Url.: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iran_petroleum_facilities_2004.jpg

* HR / ARAFAT: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS? - DOES THE 'ROAD MAP' LEAD TO 'ETERNAL PEACE' FOR THE PALESTINIANS ? - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4666.htm

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

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Distracting Congress from the Real War Plan

2007-01-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THE SURGE IS TO DISTRACT US CONGRESS WHILE PLANS ARE IMPLEMENTED TO WIDEN THE WAR AND ATTACK IRAN

NEWS YOU WON'T FIND ON CNN

FPF/HR: And I'm sorry to say that you won't either find this kind of information in the media in many US junta colonies. In Italy, Germany, England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and a lot of former 'East block' countries for instance many of those facts and possibilities Roberts writes about, are kept from the average reader, listener and viewer. And like in the United States and other US colonies the people are permanently lied to. Not even knowing they are radiated by depleted uranium (DU) dust too. The so called 'leaders' are killing the people. It really is about time the tide turns.

According to international law, the by most signed Geneva Conventions and normal decency, all collaborating people supporting the US junta's illegal wars are guilty of war crimes. Especially the formerly called 'journalists' which have sold themselves as propagandists and without whom the brainwashing and wars never would have been possible.

They must sit in the front rows of the war crimes tribunals everywhere on earth, and be punished for their inhumane treason of mankind. No capital punishment, but life time in jail with hard labor is what they all deserve. The war criminals should be similarly treated and not any better than is done to the for 99 percent falsely accused so called 'terrorists'.

Getting the same treatment as these Quislings are supporting now in for instance Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Which Amnesty International calls the American Gulag.* I'm looking forward to the day seeing those traitors in jail instead of spouting lies and propaganda in the war machine's 'messmedia'. - HR

DISTRACTING CONGRESS FROM THE REAL WAR PLAN

By Paul Craig Roberts

01/10/07 "Information Clearing House"

IS THE SURGE AN ORCHESTRATED DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL WAR PLAN?

A good case can be made that it is. The US Congress and media are focused on President Bush’s proposal for an increase of 20,000 US troops in Iraq, while Israel and its American neoconservative allies prepare an assault on Iran.

Commentators have expressed puzzlement over President Bush’s appointment of a US Navy admiral as commander in charge of the ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The appointment makes sense only if the administration’s attention has shifted from the insurgencies to an attack on Iran.

The Bush administration has recently doubled its aircraft carrier forces and air power in the Persian Gulf. According to credible news reports, the Israeli air force has been making practice runs in preparation for an attack on Iran.

Recently, Israeli military and political leaders have described Israeli machinations to manipulate the American public and their representatives into supporting or joining an Israeli assault on Iran. [Same as for NATO - HR]

Two US carrier task forces or strike groups will certainly congest the Persian Gulf. On January 9 a US nuclear sub collided with a Japanese tanker in the Persian Gulf. Two carrier groups will have scant room for maneuver.

THEIR PURPOSE IS EITHER TO PROVIDE THE MEANS FOR A HARD HIT ON IRAN OR TO SERVE AS SITTING DUCKS FOR A NEW PEARL HARBOR THAT WOULD RALLY AMERICANS BEHIND THE NEW WAR.

[FPF: 'FALSE FLAG'] SUFFER AN ORCHESTRATED ATTACK BY ISRAEL

Whether our ships are hit by Iran in retaliation to an attack from Israel or suffer an orchestrated attack by Israel that is blamed on the Iranians, there are certainly far more US naval forces in the Persian Gulf than prudence demands.

Bush’s proposed surge appears to have no real military purpose. The US military opposes it as militarily pointless and as damaging to the US Army and Marine Corps. The surge can only be accomplished by keeping troops deployed after the arrival of their replacements. Moreover, the increase in numbers that can be achieved in this way are far short of the numbers required to put down the insurgency and civil war.

THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THE SURGE IS TO DISTRACT CONGRESS WHILE PLANS ARE IMPLEMENTED TO WIDEN THE WAR.

Weapons inspectors have failed to find a nuclear weapons program in Iran. Most experts say it would be years before Iran could make a weapon even if the Iranian government is actively working on a weapons program. Since the danger, if any, is years away, why is Israel so determined to attack Iran now?

The answer might be that Israel has the chance now. The Bush administration is in its pocket. The White House is working with neoconservatives, not with the American foreign policy community represented by the Iraq Study Group. Neoconservative propagandists are in influential positions in the media. The US Congress is intimidated by AIPAC. The correlation of forces are heavily in Israel’s favor.

Part of the Israeli/neoconservative plan has already been achieved with the destruction of civilian infrastructure and spread of sectarian strife in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. If Iran can be taken out with a powerful air attack that might involve nuclear weapons, Syria would be isolated and Hezbollah would be cut off from Iranian supplies.

Israel has two years remaining to use its American resources to achieve its aims in the Middle East. How influential will Israel and the neoconservatives be with the next president in the wake of a US defeat in Iraq and Israeli defeat in Lebanon?

If the US withdraws its troops from Iraq, as the US military and foreign policy community recommend and as polls show the American public wants, the only effect of Bush’s Iraq invasion will have been to radicalize Muslims against Israel, the US, and US puppet governments in the Middle East. Extremist elements will tout their victory over the US, and the pressures on Israel to accept a realistic accommodation with Palestinians will be over-powering.

Now is the chance - the only chance - for Israel and the neoconservatives to achieve their goal of bringing Muslims to heel, a goal that they have been writing about and working to achieve for a decade.

THIS GOAL REQUIRES THE WAR TO BE WIDENED BY WHATEVER DECEIT AND TREACHERY NECESSARY TO BRING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ALONG. [AND ALL OTHER BRAINWASHED PEOPLE IN THE US JUNTA'S COLONIES - HR]

The US Congress must immediately refocus its attention from the surge to Iran, the real target of Bush administration aggression.

PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

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Click to read the story at the excellent Information Clearing House or post comments at Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16121.htm

When the above was mailed there were 138, with some quite interesting comments.

* Blair:The Iraq war is a disaster. LIKE OTHERS IN THE US JUNTA'S WAR MACHINE, ALSO DEHUMANIZED DUTCH HAVE TORTURED PRISONERS TO EXTRACT CONFESSIONS - Url.:
forpressfound.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/blair-iraq-war-is-disaster.html

* Iran General blames 911 on US and Israel - General Safavi said that Iran was the leading force of the "Islamic world".
- Url.: forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/ 09/iran-general-blames-911-on-us-and.html

* Iran satisfied with IAEA report - ''The UN's nuclear watchdog IAEA informs the FPF - Url.:
forpressfound.blogspot.com/2006/ 09/iran-satisfied-with-iaea-report.html

* UN Figures Show: US Controls Iran Permanently - Url.: www.countercurrents.org/us-henk160805.htm

* Journalists Are Killers Too...! - Url.: www.countercurrents.org/henk040803.htm

* Newsweek & the Iran war show goes on - US is holding Iranians seized in raids in Iraq. _ url.:
santiago.indymedia.org/news/2006/12/62779.php

* FASCISM: ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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US War Department Warns About Spy Coins

2007-01-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

The US DoD report says the 'Canadian' coins with tiny radio frequency transmitters hidden inside were found planted on U.S. contractors with classified security clearances on at least three separate occasions.

And, you can listen to a song about 'money and evil' while you read - at Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ykepm2

VERICHIP AWARDED U.S. PATENT FOR RFID ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM*

by Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent

FPF - Jan. 11th 2007 - In this case it's really 'Follow the money!' People acting as beacons and electronic chips making tracking possible without ‘traditional’ identifiers, like coins for shopping carts etc. was also discussed by the European (?) 'Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development', the OECD in Paris, during the meeting 'Florent Frederix' on October 5, 2005.*

In a story today about this tracking system by propaganda spreader 'AP' from Washington, the United States junta's war department (DoD) warns for coins with RFID's, those tiny radio frequency transmitters hidden inside. East German intelligence agents working for their Stasi, the 'state security service' (Staats Sicherheitsdienst), traced the movements of dissidents and monitored their meetings by spraying them with radioactive chemicals. Radioactivity checked by Geiger counters made it possible to follow the 'beeper.'*

The common saying that "Money is the root of all evil." gets a totally different meaning again... The phrase, by the way, first appeared in English circa 1000 A.D. and originated in the New Testament: "For the love of money is the root of all evil." Timothy, 6:10. - 'Old Tim' of course meant that money is power. And power generates profits...

POWER AND GREED!

It would be a much more accurate statement to say that the root of most 'evil' is man’s desire for status; either greed to increase one’s status, or jealousy over losing in the status game to others. Money is the most obvious measure of one’s status, so it’s easy to confuse the two, but they are certainly not the same thing at all. Money is just one way of keeping score. Blaming money for evil is like blaming the scoreboard for the baseball game. [*]

In a story by AP* from Washington the DoW warns: "Can the coins jingling in your pocket trace your movements? The Defense Department is warning its American contractor employees about a new espionage threat seemingly straight from Hollywood: It discovered Canadian coins with tiny radio frequency transmitters hidden inside.

In the U.S. government report, it said the mysterious coins were found planted on U.S. contractors with classified security clearances on at least three separate occasions between October 2005 and January 2006 as the contractors traveled through Canada. The U.S. report doesn't suggest who might be tracking American defense contractors or why. It also doesn't describe how the Pentagon discovered the ruse, how the transmitters might function or even which Canadian currency contained them.

Further details were secret, according to the U.S. Defense Security Service, which issued the warning to the Pentagon's classified contractors.

The government insists the incidents happened, and the risk was genuine. "What's in the report is true," said Martha Deutscher, a spokeswoman for the security service. "This is indeed a sanitized version, which leaves a lot of questions."

Top suspects, according to intelligence and technology experts: China, Russia or even France - all said to actively run espionage operations inside Canada with enough sophistication to produce such technology. [HR: Verichip, one of the biggest in the world and with the most advanced technology, is never mentioned.*]

THE CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE SAID IT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE COINS.

"This issue has just come to our attention," CSIS spokeswoman Barbara Campion said. "At this point, we don't know of any basis for these claims." She said Canada's intelligence service works closely with its U.S. counterparts and will seek more information if necessary.

Experts were astonished about the disclosure and the novel tracking technique, but they quickly rejected suggestions Canada's government might be spying on American contractors.

THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE EXTRAORDINARILY CLOSE AND ROUTINELY SHARE SENSITIVE SECRETS.

"It would seem unthinkable," said David Harris, former chief of strategic planning for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. "I wouldn't expect to see any offensive operation against the Americans."

Harris said likely candidates include foreign spies who targeted Americans abroad or businesses engaged in corporate espionage. "There are certainly a lot of mysterious aspects to this," Harris said.

Experts said such tiny transmitters would almost certainly have limited range to communicate with sensors no more than a few feet away, such as ones hidden inside a doorway.

"I'm not aware of any (transmitter) that would fit inside a coin and broadcast for kilometers," said Katherine Albrecht, an activist who believes such technology carries serious privacy risks. "Whoever did this obviously has access to some pretty advanced technology."

Experts said hiding tracking technology inside coins is fraught with risks because the spy's target might inadvertently give away the coin or spend it buying coffee or a newspaper.

THEY AGREED, HOWEVER, THAT A COIN WITH A HIDDEN TRACKING DEVICE MIGHT NOT AROUSE SUSPICION IF IT WERE DISCOVERED LOOSE IN A POCKET OR BRIEFCASE.

"It wouldn't seem to be the best place to put something like that; you'd want to put it in something that wouldn't be left behind or spent," said Jeff Richelson, a researcher and author of books about the CIA and its gadgets. "It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense."

Canada's physically largest coins include its $2 "Toonie," which is more than 1-inch across and thick enough to hide a tiny transmitter. The CIA has acknowledged its own spies have used hollow, U.S. silver-dollar coins to hide messages and film.

THE GOVERNMENT'S 29-PAGE REPORT WAS FILLED WITH OTHER ESPIONAGE WARNINGS.

It described unrelated hacker attacks, eavesdropping with miniature pen recorders and the case of a female foreign spy who seduced her American boyfriend to steal his computer passwords.

In another case, a film processing company called the FBI after it developed pictures for a contractor that contained classified images of U.S. satellites* and their blueprints. The photo was taken from an adjoining office window.

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Story from 'Associated Press' (AP) - FPF: 'AP' is short for 'American Propaganda' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjg3yc

FPF- RELATED:

* DISCUSSING RFID COINS in the 'Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development', the OECD in Paris - Meeting Florent Frederix - October 5, 2005 – RFID tracking without ‘traditional’ identifiers e.g. RFID coins to operate shopping carts. - PDF! - Url.: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/11/35473027.pdf.

* VERICHIP [FPF: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE US JUNTA'S PLANS AND WAR MACHINE] AWARDED U.S. PATENT FOR RFID ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM - URL.: HTTP://WWW.NEWS-MEDICAL.NET/PRINT_ARTICLE.ASP?ID=21322

* EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT RFID TECHNOLOGY - Url.: http://www.d-techdirect.com/access/index.htm

* HR: TRACKING PEOPLE? - A STORY I THOUGHT I'D NEVER HAVE TO WRITE - Url.: http://www.no2id-handf.org.uk/dutchfpf.htm

* EAST GERMAN SECRET POLICE 'STASI' (STAATS SICHERHEITSDIENST) used radioactive spray to track dissidents (19-06-2001) - Url.: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/01/04/wstas04.xml

* SCIENCE FICTION 'SPY-CHIPS' ARE NOW SCIENCE FACT - EVEN IN CANADA. Who's watching the watchers? - Url.: http://www.thefilter.ca/globe072406.htm

* RFID'S EXPLAINED BY WIKIPEDIA - Url.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID

* US SATELLITES TRACKING THE WARS - THE GUARDIAN (UK) OCTOBER 2001 - ''US buys up all satellite war images'' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yed6nr

THIS IS WHERE THE PROFITS GO TO BE 'RECYCLED': to the 'BIS' - The Bank for International Settlements, based in Basle, Switzerland, the BIS is central bank to central banks. The BIS has greater immunity than a sovereign nation, is accountable to no one, runs global monetary affairs and is privately owned. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6xmed

* Who's financing? - The so called 'US Federal Reserve' is the absolute biggest crime against all humanity ever. - Url.: http://www.apfn.org/apfn/reserve.htm

* Dutch HR this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/jwgqa
The Netherlands
FPF@Chello.nl

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No threat, No attack - but US opens fire in Somalia

2007-01-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

What in reality happens is the US junta usurping the national resources of Somalia - including oil. Again using the by themselves made 'false flag' waving bogeyman "al Qaeda" as the usual and worn out pretext to cover their crimes against humanity. Don't they know what revenge is? Or do they think everybody else is stupid? Well: most people are not...

ANOTHER ILLEGAL US DECLARATION OF WAR

"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." – George W. Bush, June 2002.

Henk Ruyssenaars - Former Africa correspondent

FPF - Jan. 9th 2007 - The United States junta yesterday officially has opened fire on what is called 'a remote island on the southern tip of Somalia, close to the Kenyan border'. Which of course in reality is just another infamous announcement of a further unilateral and illegal 'declaration of war'. This time concerning sovereign Somali territory which the Djibouti based US with CIA backed Ethiopian and Ugandan troops plus mercenaries illegally has invaded. The US junta's war machine with this brutal and aggressive act of war breaches the Conventions of Geneva and international law. Confirming again that the United States with it's terrorizing junta is the worst rogue state and biggst danger in the world. - [US's 'al Qaeda' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqx69]

Under the guise of the by themselves orchestrated 'War on Terror' the US/UK and their likewise illegal allies and mercenaries do NOT spread 'democracy' or 'freedom' over the globe. They can't even spell those words and only use them in their daily and sick propaganda. Like now again with abject lies about how the US/CIA made terror engulfs not only Somalia but keeps occupying other parts of Africa too. The junta and it's managers is never anywhere to 'help' people, but only to 'help' themselves and their multinationals.

THE US JUNTA'S MANAGERS ARE AN AXIS OF GLOBAL EVIL WHICH HAS TO BE MET BY RESISTANCE EVERYWHERE. AND STOPPED IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY.

In an earlier article I've described how CIA backed Ethiopian and Ugandan troops - after plans were finalized at the CIA headquarters for the area in Nairobi, Kenya - and with US mercenary trained African troops invaded and engulfed the poor population of Somalia again for their masters, the US junta and it's managers. The map at a glance explains how strategically important this war in the Horn of Africa is. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yz23qz

Because this is what really happened: Url.: http://tinyurl.com/urkqd

US: GET RID OF THE COMPETITION

What this criminal group with their London warlords* is doing, knows no decency nor any kind of positive feelings whatsoever for the rest of humanity. For all those 6.5 billion people trying to make a living on this earth but not belonging to their 'elite'. All those - like the estimated 655.000 (six-hundred-and-fifty-five-thousand) now dead human beings in Iraq, the London warlords do not and never care about humans for one iota. Never! They only care about their own well being. They are the real murderers of mankind, and NO law anywhere in the world applies to them they think. Not one law. They are 'untouchables'. Whatever they are responsible of.* The US junta's 'humanoids' and their managers are NOT fighting a 'War on Terror', religion, drugs, they are NOT 'spreading democracy' or 'freedom' or any of that nonsense for by them made 'dummies'. They also try to get rid of all competitors.

MAKING FRIEND AND FOE A 'FALL GUY' WHEN NECESSARY

The financial interests of the managers of the US junta - running the so called international market - have to be defended. That's where profit and thus power comes from. All this 'war' on this or that is absolute nonsense, propaganda for the people they want to belie and brainwash.

With ignorant 'cannon fodder' in uniform or without and of all colors and nationalities, paid with taxes by the same US/NATO/EU and a lot of other people not knowing this, or those protesting the genocide for profit. The troops many times later on have to start terrorizing, killing or transporting them to by those poor people themselves paid concentration camps.

'AP' - a.k.a. 'Associated Press' and said to be a 'news agency', is in reality spreading 'American Propaganda' - and serves the daily portion of lies which the unknowing reader and listener is supposed to swallow. Globally this propaganda machine spreads today that US air strikes in Somalia have targeted what by AP is called 'embassy bombers.'

That of course is sheer crap: this whole 'al Qaeda idiocy' about their former CIA buddies which now are called 'terrorists' is a 100 percent US junta's media fable, their 'home made' concoction. Like 9/11's 'inside job'.*

In reality those 'brave' US pilots have from a secure distance and with the latest Gatling guns on their tax paid multi million dollar AC-130 gunship cowardly shot at innocent human beings, killing some of them. They used US tax millions to kill some poor people with as AP described as an 'AC-130, a four engine turboprop-driven aircraft, armed with 40 mm cannon that fire 120 rounds per minute and a 105 mm cannon, normally a field artillery weapon. The plane's latest version, the AC-130U, known as " Spooky," also carries Gatling gun-type 20 mm cannon. The gunships were designed primarily for battlefield use to place saturated fire on massed troops. [ ]

There is no accusation before.

There is no defense of the charged.

There is no proof of the guilt of the accused.

There is no trial: the US troops torture and kill anything and anybody without accountability.

THAT'S WHAT THE US CALLS 'JUSTICE'?

The slaughter later on was justified by accusing the victims of being 'suspects in the bombings of two US embassies in East Africa in 1998." A small four year old boy was killed in another 'brave' US attack on those innocent people in a village 30 miles east of Afmadow town.

"My four-year-old boy was killed in the strike," Mohamed Mahmud Burale told the AP by telephone. "We also heard 14 massive explosions." The rest of the media lie is told by Somalia's US/CIA government's spokesman Abdirahman Dinari: "We don't know how many people were killed in the attack but we understand there were a lot of casualties," he said. "Most were Islamic fighters." [ ]

US JUSTICE: NO TRIAL - JUST KILL'M. EVEN IF THEY ARE FOUR YEARS OLD

The US junta's holocausts are globally going on without the people of the US or NATO- and many other criminalized countries - being informed about the horrible reality. Not understanding how many millions of their own tax money is permanently embezzled by their collaborating lying politicians and other so called 'leaders' to make illegal wars and defend the inhumane profits of this US/UK junta's group managers.

Like in the Horn of Africa where the by the US controlled United Nations plans to soon send 22.000 so called 'peace keepers' to defend US/UK interest in oil rich Darfur, even if the people in Sudan do not want to see this invasion. And another eight thousand troops is planned to help the US/CIA who with those 'peace keepers' want to control Somalia too. If they can. It is a historical fact that occupiers always are the losers.

The point is that the financial group doing this as usual wants to take the profits and let humanity pay the trillions in bills. The millions of lives this costs everywhere does absolutely NOT matter to the junta's managers and this group. And, looking at history, one can conclude it never did matter to any of them.*

The war declaration concerning Somalia is only a part of the crimes the US junta is committing in Africa: the US junta runs Ethiopia, Uganda, North Africa, and a lot more countries in the world which have been colonized by their banking c.q. war system. In Somalia they have sold the same lies again. Their media accuse the by many people preferred 'Islamic Courts' which finally brought some stability to the contrary. Now they are accused of having 'harboured extremists' amongst them. But the extremism always comes with the US junta and it's 'golems' everybody knows now.

Targets are made when strategically needed and what the US media when ordered calls ''al-Qaida suspects'' to be killed...

Everybody who does not agree with the present US junta's global killing and usurping spree is a 'terrorist' in their blinded eyes. Even small children...

The blood of the by them killed children alone should be enough to drown them.

Hopefully one day the war criminals will choke on it.

HENK RUYSSENAARS

Story at 'The Independent' - UK (not reliable) - Url.: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article2137783.ece

FPF/HR on Somalia - Items in Google selection - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/srefx

* ROGUE STATE: THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US CITIZENS: WATCH AND WEEP! Visit this site to check out what the war has cost your town or city or state (NATO etc. tax payers are never informed about how many billions of their tax money is squandered by the people they thought 'represented' them and their humane ideas. The collaborators and their media betray mankind.) - Url.: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

* WHERE DOES ALL THE WEALTH GO? There is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables' and are listed here at the 'BIS' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* YOU CONFESSED YOU PLANNED 9/11! - THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US junta's war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

* MAKING A KILLING ON PERPETUAL WAR: BUSH AND THE F-WORD FOREVER - HEATHER WOKUSCH, a journalist, educator and cross-cultural trainer. - Part 1: http://www.heatherwokusch.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=103

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism! Which also French President Jacques Chirac confirmed - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ym44vm

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Charles Sullivan - Soldiers and Imperial Presidents

2007-01-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

NEWS YOU WON'T FIND ON CNN

FPF-fwd. agreeing with Charles Sullivan

SOLDIERS AND IMPERIAL PRESIDENTS

By Charles Sullivan

01/03/06 "Information Clearing House" -- -- The vast majority of those who serve in the United States military probably do so with the best of intentions and with honor. The belief that they are defending their country from foreign attackers and doing their patriotic duty as citizens is persistently reinforced. Military service is one of America’s sacred cows; it is something that is rarely questioned and is surrounded by an invisible aura of nobility. No one, especially those who serve, wants to think of their time in the military as anything less than honorable and worthy of glorification.

But the trouble with sacred cows is that they tend to preclude critical examination and often escape the scrutiny of rational thinking and moral judgments. The premise of honorary military service thus goes virtually unchallenged, and often becomes the essence of dogma. But it seems to me that anyone contemplating a military career, especially since it may require killing other human beings and broad scale environmental destruction, should do so with open eyes and clear senses. They need to know who they are serving and whose interests they are protecting.

There is no escaping the fact that the U.S. is an imperialist nation conceived in genocide and racism that has continued through the ages, and worsened with the rise of modern technology and weaponry. With the advent of smart bombs came stupid and immoral leaders. Our litany of crimes against earth and humanity are concealed under layers of moral language, but the actual deeds belie the intent behind what is being done in our name. Ignorance, however, does not absolve anyone from culpability.

WAR AS THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF PATRIOTISM

Anyone considering military service should deliberate upon the promises proffered by recruiters with extreme skepticism. Recruiters are trained to exalt war as the highest expression of patriotism and love of country; when, in fact, it is often the most debasing expression of our humanity that makes a shallow mockery of real service to god and country. The war resister and the conscientious objector may be the true patriot.

I will make no effort to conceal my contempt for military recruiters who prey upon unsuspecting and inexperienced youth, especially the poor and economically disadvantaged. No parent should expose their children to these predators. Recruiters are the moral equivalent of ambulance chasers, and they should be accorded no more respect than them, or the corporate con men who sell us goods that are detrimental to our health. These people are not concerned about the welfare of our children or the country; they are the representatives of imperialism, empire, and Plutocracy; and they are in search of cannon fodder.

Marketing militarism and war to society at large is no different than selling potato chips laced with trans-fats or carcinogenic chemicals, without regard to public health and its attendant social costs. It is all about managing public perception and providing widening profit margins to the corporations that are running the government. To hell with the public welfare and moral pronouncements, the plantation owner demands blood sacrifices as a show of loyalty and gratitude.

Thus it is not surprising that military sacrament is couched in the language of service to country, patriotism, and other noble causes that are as divorced from reality as the President is removed from sanity. The hypocrisy of righteous language contrasted to the actual deed is readily apparent to anyone who knows history. It is propaganda in the purest and most lethal form.

SERVING THE RULING CLIQUE

No doubt, the millions of men and women working in the armed forces today do so in the belief that they are heroically serving their country, as well as the cause of freedom and democracy. But in fact, they are serving the ruling clique, the Illuminati, and a few thousand wealthy investors, which represent less than 0.02% of the population. There must be no confusion that the financial interests of Halliburton, Bechtel, and the Bush dynasty are not the interests of America’s citizens, especially those in the armed forces.

There is nothing noble or moral about invading defenseless sovereign nations and killing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of innocent human beings. There is no morally justifiable way of making occupation and the outright theft of natural capital, such as oil, respectable or gallant. Genocide and theft are crimes against humanity, regardless how the corporate advertisers and public relations firms couch them; and the military is complicit in the commission of those crimes, whether they are ignorant of their role in them or not.

Consider, for example, the role the military has traditionally played in carrying out the plans of one imperial president after another. We have troops permanently stationed in 135 nations protecting America’s corporate interests from democracy. Stifling democracy is quite different from nurturing it. Either most of our presidents are pathological liars or they do not know the difference between nurturing and destroying. America’s record of imperialism speaks for itself; and it is something that, when critically examined, is not easily mistaken for anything other than what it is.

SIMILARLY, THE BOGUS WAR ON TERROR IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS, AS HISTORIAN HOWARD ZINN HAS SO APTLY POINTED OUT. WAR IS TERRORISM. TERRORISM BEGETS TERRORISM, AND NOTHING BUT TERRORISM. WAR DOES NOT, AND CANNOT EVER LEAD TO PEACE.

Aided by the CIA and death squads trained at the School of the America’s at Fort Benning, Georgia, the U.S. has crushed one fledgling democracy after another and replaced them with brutally oppressive right wing dictatorships friendly to American corporations and financial investors. Let us recall that Saddam Hussein was our man in Iraq until he converted from the dollar to the euro. From Iran to Chile there are hundreds, if not thousands, of cases that could be cited. For a more detailed analysis of these incursions, I refer readers to William Blum’s provocative book, Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions since World War Two.

Let us assume that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq is a fairly typical example of imperial policies that have been in vogue for well over a century. Like previous military actions, the invasion of Iraq was based upon a litany of lies set forth by the president and his cabinet, and carried forth in the corporate media. Iraq did not pose a threat to America or to the interests of the American people, and both the President and the commercial media knew it. Their intent was to deceive and to garner support for unconscionable acts of aggression and terror that are not in the people’s interest.

Thus our armed forces are in Iraq under false pretenses that have nothing to do with spreading democracy or liberating oppressed people from tyranny. They are there for reasons that are as nefarious as they are treasonous. More than anyone, the men and women in the armed forces need to know why they are in Iraq and what is expected of them by the commander in chief.

The Plutocratic interests in Iraq may be summarized as the use of technologically advanced military forces and high tech weaponry that provide incalculable wealth to a privileged few. In this context, soldiers are nothing more than a means to and end; a Machiavellian way of socializing costs and privatizing profits—the ultimate in corporate welfare. Well over $50 billion in profits have been hauled out of Iraq by 150 U.S. corporations, including the privatization of lucrative Iraqi oil. The profits and the death toll continue to rise simultaneously.

SOME 700,000 IRAQI PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE WAR

To date, some 700,000 Iraqi people have died in the war and occupation, and the violence is rapidly escalating. Most of the dead are civilians, many of them women and children. Over 3,000 American soldiers have died on the basis of lies and thousands more are permanently maimed and traumatized—all to enhance the bottom line of America’s wealthiest and most privileged elite.

It is not well publicized in the western mainstream media that fourteen permanent military bases are under construction in Iraq. The occupation is growing deep tap roots that are drawing the life, and the oil, out of the region, and consuming it in a firestorm of self-perpetuating violence.

President Bush and his kind, always eager to exploit a photo opportunity, frequently pay homage to the troops stationed around the world and in return garner their respect and admiration, neither of which is deserved. Placing soldiers in peril when there is no threat to America or to national security is an expression of utter contempt for them; it is a treasonous offense worthy of the most severe punishment short of execution.

Aside from photo ops, Bush and his wealthy brethren do not associate with enlisted men, whose petty lives transpire far below the lofty socio-economic status the elite were born into. Enlisted men and women are permitted to wipe the cow dung from the president’s cowboy boots, but they are not allowed to wear them or travel in the same social circles as their owner.

The parasites that are running the country produce nothing, and have no more loyalty to the American people or to the Constitution than Frito-Lay or Halliburton. Their only allegiance is to accruing ever more wealth and power to themselves by all possible means, including war. You see, America is also an occupied country.

WAR BENEFITS THOSE WHO INSTIGATE THEM AND REAP THEIR FINANCIAL REWARD

Neither the Iraqi nor American people’s interest is served by the military industrial complex. War is never in the interest of those who are fooled into fighting them. War benefits those who instigate them and reap their financial reward from the safety of posh offices and marbled halls. War is the century’s old tradition of peasants doing the bidding of kings and queens. That is whose interest is being served by our soldiers.

The truth is that soldiering is a particularly virulent manifestation of America’s unending class war; the continued exploitation of the working class by the ruling elite—the rich preying upon the poor. Now the President and his accomplices in Congress intend to send even more soldiers to Iraq, further escalating the violence, and acting contrary to public sentiment. The lives of these men and women mean nothing to the emperor and his minions. They are only so much excrement to be wiped from their boots; the sacrificial lambs of empire crawling beneath their ignoble gaze.

Despite my severe criticism, it is not my intention to disparage either soldiers or military service. However, these men and women are being duped and exploited, and someone has to tell them what they are killing and dying for. It will remain for each individual to weigh the evidence and decide whether it is right or wrong, courageous or foolish.

CHARLES SULLIVAN

Sources:

The Bush Agenda: Invading the World One Economy at a Time, Regan Books, 2006

Information Clearinghouse, www.informationclearinghouse.info

Killing Hope, William Blum, Common Courage Press, 1995

Charles Sullivan is a photographer, free-lance writer and social activist residing in West Virginia. He welcomes your comments at csullivan@phreego.com.

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-0-

The U.S. 'War of Territory'

2007-01-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Ethiopia's CIA-backed troops will be home from Somalia within weeks they say. Leaving Somalia, with a few criminal warlords as 'government'. Some of the CIA-paid warlords are responsible for the U.S. defeat in 1993, dragging US Marine's corpses through the streets of Mogadishu. Now UN troops make the news raping children in Sudan.

MASSMEDIA SHOULD NOT CONFUSE 'DEMOCRACY' WITH DIVIDEND...

Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF - January 3, 2007 - In the 'debate' and articles in the US junta's propaganda media concerning the illegal invasion of Somalia by the U.S. (tax) paid, equipped and trained Ethiopian and Ugandan troops, the words oil, gas and/or natural resources mostly are missing. Ordered by Washington's warmongers in their 'guidelines for the media' was that via their war propaganda people should not be made to wonder about the CIA and Ethiopia's breach of Somali sovereignty.* Or think about who's doing this again or why? You're reading this on Internet because you are not supposed to know the facts about the US/CIA having another proxy war in Africa. And another quagmire and 'blowback' coming up.

The story - Washington in it's ukase warned - should not be about the illegality of the CIA made invasion nor concerning the proven reserves of all natural resources in the area in this 'War of Territory'. Not a word is supposed to be said or published about the 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas in US colony Ethiopia, or the 'barrel billions' of oil in Somalia and Sudan. To the northern part Darfur - where most of the oil is and the Chinese must be thrown out - the US/NATO war planners intend to send 22.000 armed troops - so called UN 'peace keepers' to give 'humanitarian help.' The Dutch 'special UN observer' Jan Pronk was kicked out because he kept advocating the illegal and unwanted invasion of those 22.000 'UN" troops. Pronk was helping the US junta to get the oil, and not - as he claimed - to get help for the Sudanese people who needed it. It didn't matter apparently that according to The Daily Telegraph (UK) UN troops in south Sudan were raping children.*

A BLOODY JOKE

The often used expression 'humanitarian help' is a US/UN euphemism for illegal occupation and literally more of a yoke than a bloody joke. At first and like nearly everywhere on earth the US and it's 'special forces' with psy-ops start making local problems. Also slyly bombing friend and foe, blowing up people in markets and mosques, on ships or in air planes in 'false flag' operations to sow any form of hate and thus division among local people in the territories they want to rule. Whether it is in former USSR countries in Eastern Europe or in Africa. The people are than blamed for this US made 'civil war' and tenthousands of armed 'peace keepers' pour in to 'help. Whether the people and government of a country wants it or not. Latin America is high on the CIA/NED's hit list. With Venezuela's oil and president Hugo Chavez' humane idea's very close, it's probably next on the list of the US junta. The CIA's jackals have already been at work for a long time.*

To realize the 'divide and rule' system they'll rape, torture, bomb and kill in every way possible, 'reporting' the fakes too and even filming the disasters which than always are blamed on 'al Qaeda' or something similar and unprovable. But when you ask why in the areas and countries where the US/UN is 'helping' with food etc, the life expectancy everywhere goes down, you won't get an honest answer. In extremely poor countries like Somalia and Ethiopia the US/UN, IMF, World Bank or European Union's (all the same 'firm') so called 'humanitarian help' has resulted in a deadly drop in 'life expectancy' from forty-eight years (48) to forty-three-dot-eight years. (43.8) Those fake NGO's and other 'help organisations' combined with the US war machine also 'help' them in a premature grave. Like in all countries 'they' have colonized or try to usurp for their fake 'empire' and to 'create our own reality' as the Washington 'crazies' say.

UN'S MOONIE: DEATH PENALTY Á LA CARTE?

False information has been and is permanently distributed by global propaganda outlets like CNN, FOX or the BBC, with all global criminally collaborating junta media, and than the by the US 'run' United Nations produces the usual 'fig leaf' for the killing and drilling, some kind of 'UN resolution' asking for ''immediate help to solve this humanitarian problem''. A problem which in most cases is one hundred percent 'made in the USA' and enforced by the junta's Karl Rovian spinners. The professional liars and Judasses. One of the new 'front men' is the former Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon from US colony South Korea who is now installed at the helm of the UN and yesterday said what was on his brainwashed mind, stating at a press conference when asked about the illegal and inhuman lynching of Saddam Hussein and common sense: "Every country is responsible for meting out capital punishment". Absolutely not true and totally contrary to the UN Charter which this Moonie is supposed to upheld.

In a very clumsy way it was later retracted. But that's how he and the US 'crazies' think. The fact that the US 'democrats' tomorrow take the Senate does not make one iota of a difference. There is absolutely no difference whatsoever between republicans or democrats. With only a few and rare exceptions those corrupt demo-rats have voted for all the US junta's wars, shredding the Constitution and $trillions to be stolen from the tax payers. Everywhere, and also of course from the tax payers in the 27 European Union and NATO countries.

THE UNTOUCHABLES - REWARDING THE KILLERS OF US TROOPS

But people should learn to comprehend that the financial group steering the wars* is absolutely not interested in them as human beings, their religions or politics. There's only one global goal for the rulers and that's the control of all natural resources in as much territory as is possible. As my decades long favorite troubadour Tom Lehrer always sang: And when in doubt, send the Marines!* Like now again in the Horn of Africa. In Somalia it doesn't even matter to the warmongers to pay former killers of United States and UN troops or other by the people despised characters. As long as they do what the war profiteers say. Because whatever the criminal warlords in Somalia say or think: their global masters 'run' the show and get the profits. And there is no law nor court anywhere in this world which can stop them. They are the 'untouchables'. - [BIS - http://tinyurl.com/yj7p5b]

Author Justin Raimondo has a good point when writing: "The failed UN/U.S. intervention of 1993 led directly to the triumph of the warlords, who plundered, raped, and murdered their way through the streets of Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, and reduced the country to Mad Max territory. In response, an "Islamic courts" movement sprang up to impose some sort of cohesion on a rapidly disintegrating social order. The business community and public opinion rallied behind these courts, which were and are all that stand between civilization and savagery in Somalia.

As I’ve pointed out before, the long history of U.S. intervention in Somalia is a veritable case study of how and why American foreign policy always manages to generate the deadliest, most horrific "blowback," as the intelligence professionals put it. Blowback, a concept exhaustively explored in Chalmers Johnson’s classic book of the same title, means the unintended consequences of our bumbling, culturally tone-deaf, invariably unsuccessful efforts to manipulate local proxies to maximize our alleged national interests.

AIDED AND ABETTED BY THE U.S.

In the 1990s, the Americans intervened in the name of "humanitarianism," against the warlords; in the new millennium, we have tossed aside humanitarian concerns in favor of the ruthless pursuit of "terrorists," real or imagined. The former "warlords" hunted by U.S. troops and blamed for Somalia’s shocking degeneration into pure chaos are now aided and abetted by the Americans and their Ethiopian cohorts."

And those according to the Geneva Conventions war criminals apparently are the new 'front people' for the US junta's warlords. Somalian thugs which are the CIA's new 'friends' even if they killed and fought the US war machine before. The 'Black Hawk Down' story does not impress anybody making money out of blood. As the US junta's consigliere Heinrich Kissinger, this plague of humanity and war criminal #1, said aloud: "Soldiers are just dumb animals to be used."

Concerning this the well known Canadian foreign correspondent Eric Margolis writes about the US junta blundering into Somalia and this part of Africa: "The US-backed and financed Ethiopian offensive was clearly designed to crush the first stable government strife-torn Somalia has had in 15 years of civil war and anarchy. The new Islamic regime, known as the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), recently managed to bring law and order to much of southern and central Somalia. In the north, a secessionist group has proclaimed something called independent "Puntland."

The Union of Islamic Courts ended Somalia’s long civil war by crushing local warlords who were being armed and financed by the CIA. The US claims the Islamic Courts is a second Taliban-style movement containing "terrorists" involved in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in East Africa who will turn Somalia into a hotbed of anti-American subversion. The UIC denies these allegations.

More important, under the Bush/Cheney Administration, any movement that has the audacity to call itself "Islamic" immediately becomes a target of American hostility. The embarrassing total defeat of US-backed Somali warlords by the Islamic Courts militia led directly to Washington’s decision to press Ethiopia to invade Somalia. Ethiopia has one of Africa’s more powerful, well-trained armed forces with over 1,300 tanks and a modern air force that are now increasingly equipped and aided by the United States."*

AS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN MISSING AN EYE

As an observer of international affairs Eric Margolis is a very good writer who of course in this article on the new quagmire in Africa can not write everything he knows. But here again - like salt in the soup - I miss the words oil, gas and natural resources. It's a very good item, but the article is as a beautiful woman missing an eye.

Because globally the theft of oil and gas - plus the rest - is what this whole 'US junta made misery' is about again. It's definitely not about propaganda stories concerning the abuse of child soldiers, religion, local politics, the US home made bogeyman al Qaeda* or other malicious and US junta made catastrophes like their 9/11 'inside job'.

Whatever 'they' say: it's a sometimes secret terror war for territory and control of the natural resources.

Fuel for the US junta and it's Golem* the war machine.

Nothing else.

HENK RUYSSENAARS

RELATED:

* TERRITORY WAR: HOW THE CIA'S JACKALS WORK - Insider John Perkins - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8171.htm

* Justin Raimondo - You can find his article at: http://tinyurl.com/y39c65

* Eric Margolis article on the US/CIA in Somalia - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16048.htm

* UN troops in south Sudan raping children - Daily Telegraph (UK) - Wednesday 3 January 2007 - Url.: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article19558

* Access to the sea too. The map at a glance explains how strategically important this war in the Horn of Africa is. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yz23qz

* 'Moonie' Coronation on Capitol Hill - Now UN control? - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8qrd9

* THE GOLEM - ''A manlike creature used to conduct errands.'' - Url.: http://www.jewishmag.com/26mag/golem/golem.htm

* US made 'Al Qaeda' – The Database - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqx69

* How can creatures looking like human beings do this? The psychopathic 'others': http://tinyurl.com/v49l3]

* HR: ''CIA WITH ETHIOPIA VS SOMALIA: ANOTHER U.S. PROXY WAR'' - url.: http://tinyurl.com/yl25w7

* THE FINANCING GROUP STEERING THE PROFITABLE WARS AND THE LONDON WARLORDS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/hvtxo

THE CIA MARCHES ITS ETHIOPIAN MERCENARIES INTO SOMALIA: HOW AND WHY DO THOSE WARS START? AND WHO PROFITS? - It's your life too: Must watch Video at Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8171.htm

* US "DEATH SQUAD PROTECTION ACT" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* TOM LEHRER ''SEND THE MARINES!'' - Url.:http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/t/tomlehrer3903/sendthemarines185498.html

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Mohammed Bazzi: People's Revolt in Lebanon

2007-01-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

HR comment: The Nation is a source of information we normally never quote. This is on the other hand a good piece of 'alibi journalism' for the editors of The Nation. It concerns the protest in Beirut, something which should happen as soon as is possible in all US junta colonies. Those power hungry psychopaths must be stopped before they stop our world. Everywhere on the globe.

PEOPLE'S REVOLT IN LEBANON

by MOHAMAD BAZZI

[The Nation - from the January 8, 2007 issue]

Beirut - Ever since Hezbollah and its allies began an open-ended protest against the US-backed government on December 1, Beirut's gilded downtown--built for wealthy Lebanese and foreign tourists--has become more authentically Lebanese. Where Persian Gulf sheiks once ate sushi, families now sit in abandoned parking lots, having impromptu picnics, the smell of kebabs cooked over coals wafting through the air. Young men lounge on plastic chairs, smoking apple-scented water pipes, and occasionally break out into debke, the Lebanese national dance.

Most protesters are too poor to afford $4 caffe lattes, but men hawking shots of strong Arabic coffee for 30 cents apiece are doing a brisk trade. Nearly all businesses are shuttered, but a few enterprising store owners have figured out how to cater to the crowd. One hair salon converted itself into a sandwich shop, selling cheese on bread with a cup of tea for $1. The smiling cashier works behind a counter filled with L'Oréal hair products.

"IT'S WELL-KNOWN THAT THIS AREA WAS NOT BUILT FOR US."

"I never came to downtown before these protests. I can't afford to come here. If I ate a sandwich here, I'd be broke for a week," says Emad Matairek, a 35-year-old carpenter from the dahiyeh, the Shiite-dominated suburbs of Beirut. "It's well-known that this area was not built for us."

The protests are being portrayed in much of the Western media as a sectarian battle, or a coup attempt--engineered by Hezbollah's two main allies, Syria and Iran--against a US-backed Lebanese government. Those are indeed factors underlying the complex and dangerous political dance happening in Beirut. But the biggest motivator driving many of those camped out in downtown isn't Iran or Syria, or Sunni versus Shiite. It's the economic inequality that has haunted Lebanese Shiites for decades. It's a poor and working-class people's revolt.

In Riad Solh Square, amid dozens of white tents erected for Hezbollah supporters to sleep in, there is a stage with a huge TV screen and rows of loudspeakers mostly positioned toward the Grand Serail, the Ottoman-era palace where Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his Cabinet are hunkered down. Between the tents and the palace, behind eight-foot-high coils of barbed wire, there are hundreds of Lebanese soldiers toting M-16s and sitting atop armored vehicles. Every night thousands of people gather in front of the stage, within earshot of the Serail, demanding that Siniora either resign or accept a national unity government that gives Hezbollah and its allies greater power.

A major theme highlighted by the protesters is that Siniora is backed by the Bush Administration--and that alliance did little to help Lebanon during last summer's thirty-four-day war between Israel and Hezbollah. A few days into the sit-in, Hezbollah hung a large banner from a building showing Siniora embracing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, over a collage of dead Lebanese children Photoshopped onto his back. It reads, "Condy--Thanks," a reference to Siniora's meeting with Rice during the war, when US officials refused to endorse a quick cease-fire. "Thank you for your patience Condy, for some of our children are still alive," it reads.

SINIORA'S GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPT

But in most conversations with people at the sit-in and protests, economic concerns quickly emerge: Siniora's government is corrupt, has failed to reduce Lebanon's crippling $41 billion public debt and has done little to improve people's lives. Shiites are especially forgotten in the country's economic planning. Many at the sit-in have been out of work for years, or lost their jobs after the recent war.

"Our country is getting poorer, and Siniora's government is not talking about it," says Hadi Mawla, a 22-year-old graphic design student who came from the dahiyeh on the protest's first day, which drew hundreds of thousands to downtown. "Our standard of living is falling, while other Arab countries are improving. We Lebanese used to make fun of other Arab countries. Now they have great big cities like Dubai. And we're going to end up like Egypt--with a very poor class, a very rich class and nothing in between."

The economic dimension to the protest can be seen everywhere. Around the square there are hand-drawn posters of Siniora sitting on a chair made of stacks of dollar bills. From the stage, a projector shines slogans highlighting economic demands onto a building that houses the ultra-chic Buddha Bar, with its two-story Buddha statue inside. The swirling projector makes its point: "No to the government of VAT" and "No to the government of seafront properties."

This class battle transcends sectarian boundaries. Hezbollah has formed an alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement, led by Maronite Christian politician and former army commander Michel Aoun. With this coalition Hezbollah is trying to prove that it's not a purely sectarian party, it's not seeking to impose an Islamic government and it's willing to ally not just with nationalist Sunnis but also with Christians. Because Aoun stresses honest government, accountability and economic equality, he and Hezbollah seemed like a natural fit. By playing up its alliance with Aoun--and downplaying its partnership with the notoriously corrupt Shiite Amal party--Hezbollah can reinforce the reputation for honesty shared by many Islamist movements in the Middle East.

"THEY WILL HEAR US IN ALL THE PALACES OF THE RULING COALITION" (+ Internet!)

Hezbollah's charismatic leader, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah--ever skillful at tapping into the Shiite tradition of empowering the dispossessed--often highlights the class dimension of his group's campaign. "They will hear us in all the palaces of the ruling coalition," Nasrallah thundered on December 7, in a speech via video-link to the protesters downtown. He was calling for a huge turnout at a rally three days later, where crowd estimates ranged as high as 1 million. "From the homes of the poor, from the shantytowns, from the tents, from the demolished buildings, from the neighborhoods of those displaced by war, we will make sure that they hear our voices."

There's a long tradition of the Lebanese state leaving Shiites to fend for themselves and waiting for religious or charitable groups to fill the vacuum. This happened over decades, long before Hezbollah emerged in the early 1980s. Hezbollah's "state within a state" was possible only because successive governments willfully left a void in the Shiite-dominated areas of south Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the dahiyeh.

"The central government always liked outsourcing the problems of the south. First they gave it to the Palestinians, then they gave it to the Israelis, and they gave it to Hezbollah from 2000 to 2006," says Khalil Gebara, co-director of the Lebanese Transparency Association, an anti-corruption watchdog group. "Hezbollah does what every political party does: They went and created a dependency network."

In the 1960s and '70s, when Shiites were first making the migration from the rural south and Bekaa to Beirut and other cities, the central government left their fate to the clans and feudal landlords who held sway in the agricultural hinterlands. By 1970, when the Palestine Liberation Organization began creating bases in southern Lebanon, the Shiites were on the front line of a conflict between the PLO and Israel. A Shiite cleric named Musa al-Sadr created Amal, the first Shiite political party, which later turned into a militia. To an extent, Amal supplanted the feudal lords as protector of the Shiites.

AFTER THE ISRAELI INVASION OF 1982, HEZBOLLAH EMERGED TO FIGHT THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION.

It was more disciplined and less corrupt than Amal, although Hezbollah was always dependent on Iranian funding and support. When Hezbollah's grinding guerrilla war forced Israel to end its occupation in May 2000, the militia was hailed throughout the Muslim world for achieving what no Arab army had done before: force Israel to relinquish land. With the Israeli withdrawal, Hezbollah moved into the vacuum in southern Lebanon, opening clinics and schools and providing small-business loans.

To many Shiites, Hezbollah's ascendance put them on the political map. There's a word Lebanese have used to put down a Shiite: mutawali, which roughly translates into "country bumpkin." It's a term freighted with meaning--of dispossession, prejudice, deprivation. But Shiites have appropriated it and now use it with pride. "During the civil war, we mutawalis were insulted and put down. Hezbollah gave us a new sense of dignity, and that's the most important right we can have," says Mawla, the graphic design student. "Hezbollah made it possible for us to stand, without fear, and shout from the rooftops that we are mutawalis."

In 1990, at the end of the fifteen-year civil war, Lebanon's political class chose to continue its sectarian system. The current crisis is rooted in that choice, which began with the 1989 Taif Accord, brokered by Saudi Arabia and Syria. The agreement called for all militias to disarm--with the exception of Hezbollah, whose militia was labeled a "national resistance" against the Israeli occupation. Leaving traditional warlords in place, Taif enshrined the political partition among the country's rival sects: Power must be shared between a Maronite Christian president, a Sunni prime minister and a Shiite speaker of Parliament. Each of the major players in the war seized a piece of the government and extended the sectarian system to the lowest rungs of the civil service. This arrangement was ripe for exploitation by outside powers, especially Syria, which dominated Lebanon from 1990 until last year.

One man had a chance to change the economic underpinnings of this system, and perhaps eventually cast aside its entire sectarian basis. He was Rafik Hariri, a billionaire construction tycoon who served as prime minister for most of the 1990s and until late 2004. But Hariri failed at building a healthy postwar economy. He rebuilt downtown Beirut at the expense of the hinterlands, and he focused on luxury sectors--banking and upscale tourism--instead of Lebanon's productive sectors, agriculture and small industry. Hariri was trying to return to the prewar economy, which was driven by Lebanon's role as a transit center for oil money from the Persian Gulf. But by the 1990s oil producers no longer needed the Lebanese banking system; they had Dubai.

AND THE LEBANESE ARMY WASN'T ABLE TO STOP IT?

"Everything that the government built around here means nothing to us," says Matairek, the carpenter at the downtown protests. "What they should have done was strengthen the Lebanese army. All the money they spent to fix this downtown--what's the use of it, if the Israeli warplanes were able to bomb us, and the Lebanese army wasn't able to stop it?"

The gleaming downtown became a symbol of Hariri's reign and his failed economic policies. By the time he left office Lebanon had a $36 billion public debt, or 170 percent of GDP--one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in the world (it's now 190 percent). For much of Hariri's term, he relied on Siniora, an old friend, as his finance minister.

Siniora's biggest triumph as finance minister was the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference, which netted Lebanon $4.4 billion in soft loan guarantees. In return Siniora promised a raft of neoliberal economic reforms: He would privatize state assets like cellphone contracts, reform the country's civil service sector and balance the budget by 2006. Nine months before the donors conference, Siniora imposed Lebanon's first value-added tax (VAT): a 10 percent surcharge on most goods except food and medicines. One of his main arguments for staying in office is to shepherd a Paris III conference scheduled for January, in which international donors are expected to contribute toward rebuilding the infrastructure devastated by last summer's Israeli offensive.

"Because of Siniora and his economic programs, we have a very flawed tax system, based on indirect taxes. Statistically, it has been shown that this system recycles money from the poor to the wealthy," says Fawwaz Traboulsi, a political science professor at the Lebanese American University. "We have a 10 percent flat income tax, but most state revenues come from indirect taxation: the VAT, fuel taxes, utility surcharges. Salaried people pay the bulk of these taxes."

Throughout his tenure, Hariri clashed with the Syrian-backed Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud. In February 2005 Hariri was assassinated in a massive bombing as his motorcade drove through Beirut's seaside corniche. Widely assumed to have been carried out by Syria or its agents, the killing shook Lebanon and cast a harsh light on Syrian hegemony over the political system. Under internal pressure and mass demonstrations, the Syrian-backed prime minister resigned and Damascus pulled its 14,000 troops out of Lebanon. After elections in June 2005, the new parliamentary majority--a coalition of Christian, Sunni and Druse parties--appointed Siniora as prime minister. For the first time, Hezbollah joined the Lebanese Cabinet, securing two seats in Siniora's administration.

DIVIDED DRASTICALLY BETWEEN HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS

Until last summer's Israel-Hezbollah war, Siniora continued with the economic policies he had begun under Hariri. Morality aside, there's one major problem with these soak-the-poor economics: They strengthen Hezbollah. In a country divided drastically between haves and have-nots, a large proportion of the have-nots happen to be Shiites, and they rely for social services not on the government but on Hezbollah. In their view, the government takes, while Hezbollah provides.

After the latest war, with Israeli bombs targeting Shiite-owned factories and businesses in the south and in the Beirut suburbs, the Shiite middle class was devastated. This has made Shiites even more dependent on Hezbollah, as evidenced by the group's handing out up to $12,000 in cash payments to everyone whose home was destroyed. The money--most likely provided by Iran--was intended to pay for a year's rent and new furniture while reconstruction begins.

Locked in a state of perpetual conflict, Lebanon today faces the same choice it had in 1990, when the civil war ended. It can replicate the political system that it had before--based on corrupt sectarian warlords dividing up the spoils of the war they perpetuated--or it can try to produce a stronger and more egalitarian system, one that isn't based on religious divisions and that won't consign its largest sect, the Shiites, to the care of an Iranian-funded religious party.

"How can we still accept this government that steals? This government that built this downtown and accumulated this huge debt?" asks Matairek, the Shiite carpenter. "Who's going to pay for it? I have to pay for it, and my son is going to pay for it after me."

[andend] - This article can be found on the web at Url.: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070108/bazzi

FPF - RELATED:

* FPF/HR Google conc. Lebanon - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/gqgzb

* "People do not forget. They do not forget the death of their fellows, they do not forget torture and mutilation, they do not forget injustice, they do not forget oppression, they do not forget the terrorism of mighty powers. They not only don't forget: they also strike back." - 2005 Nobel Literature Prize winner Harold Pinter - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/9cyeq

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Gabriele Zamparini: The crows join the lynching

2007-01-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - There is a sinister caw in the air. Important journalists, liberal commentators, leftist activists, Middle East experts, influential intellectuals, professionals of the antiwar movement with their progressive think tanks and peace networks are now discussing the hanging of Saddam Hussein when nothing had written or said before this vile assassination and often contributed to the lynching through a campaign of misinformation and propaganda.

Who remembers now how all this started? The rotten lies of Tony Blair’s “45 minutes” and Condoleezza Rice’s “mushroom cloud” have been used to justify the supreme international crime, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, a defenseless country that had never attacked the United States, that did not have any weapons of mass destruction, that did not have any ties to al-Qaida, that had no connection to the September 11 attacks...

ABOUT ONE MILLION IRAQIS HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED, MANY MORE MILLIONS DISPLACED AND A CIVIL WAR ORCHESTRATED. FINALLY SADDAM HUSSEIN, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ, WAS ASSASSINATED.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called the invasion of Iraq “an illegal act that contravened the UN charter”; the Nuremberg trials of major Nazi war criminals had already called this crime the “supreme international crime”. This supreme international crime started on 20 March 2003 and it’s still being committed. Iraq is an occupied country without sovereignty where terrorists and mass murderers compose its quisling sectarian government. Since 20 March 2003 everything happening in and around Iraq is outside international law and the effects of this persisting illegality is the apocalypse before our eyes.

NOW LET’S GO BACK TO THE ASSASSINATION OF THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ.

Instead of pointing out the barbarity of this umpteenth crime and calling for the restoration of international law and the punishment of its perpetrators, the crows add their caw to the hyenas and vultures of the lynching mob and discuss the alleged crimes of the victim. ZNet, the fleet admiral of the Imperial antiwar movement information network, published several pieces on the death of Saddam Hussein. All these pieces had the same point of view. In “TALKING POINTS ON THE EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN”, Phyllis Bennis, one of the most prominent voices of the American anti-war movement, writes:

With U.S. officials still running the legal show in Baghdad, the U.S. military occupation still in control of the country, and the escalating war engulfing Iraq, no trial held under these conditions can be considered legitimate.

2) Some ask "if the trial had been fair, would the results have been different?" The conviction of Saddam Hussein for huge crimes against the Iraqi people would almost certainly be the same.
Bennis’ words [“The conviction of Saddam Hussein for huge crimes against the Iraqi people would almost certainly be the same”] simply repudiate several hundred years of civilization. The use of the word “execution” to describe what really happened, the lynching of the legitimate president of Iraq, together with focusing her essay on the alleged crimes of the victim instead of the ‘supreme international crime’ of the aggressors, deliberately blind the readers and move their attention to more comfortable and safe sites."

[end quote] - You can read the rest here at Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yku4n6

FPF - Related:

* Hussein Execution Enrages Some | Journalist Deaths - Url.: http://electronicIraq.net

* "Human Rights Watch" [http://tinyurl.com/ygpvxb] is like many others not what it seems to be but a lightning rod for the people trying to understand what the killers are up to.

* "Hanging Saddam is inhuman and illegal - Who's next?" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydvure

* HR this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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All these billions: where does all the money go?

2007-01-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

FPF-fwd. Joan Brunwasser + MediaLens

Perkins "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" + Where does all the money go?*

JOAN BRUNWASSER, VOTING INTEGRITY EDITOR, OPEDNEWS

"This book is my every nightmare come true. When I speak about it, the first thing most people ask is, "It's fiction, right?" Wrong. And, I'm more sorry about that than I can say.

Here is a review of an important and disturbing book about what fuels our national foreign policy. It's an eye-opener. This article will give you a taste; I urge you to take the time to read the book, available in hardcopy, paperback and on CD." - Best wishes, Joan Brunwasser - Email: Joan@OpEdNews.com op rafijoan@comcast.net

Her story is at Url.: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_joan_bru_070101__22confessions_of_an_e.htm

HR: When reading Joan's article on Perkins, I thought about this article* by the excellent MediaLens:

KILLING HOPE - OF JACKALS AND ECONOMIC HIT MEN

In his book, Confessions Of An Economic Hit Man, John Perkins describes the role he played in the West’s devastation of the Third World for profit, Latin America very much included. Perkins compares himself to the slave traders of colonial times:

“I had been the heir of those slavers who had marched into African jungles and hauled men and women off to waiting ships. Mine had been a more modern approach, subtler - I never had to see the dying bodies, smell the rotting flesh, or hear the screams of agony.” (Perkins, Confessions Of An Economic Hit Man, Ebury Press, 2005, p.148; www.johnperkins.org)

In January 1971, Perkins was hired by American big business to forecast economic growth in Third World countries. These forecasts were used to justify massive international loans, which funded engineering and construction projects, so funnelling money back to US corporations while enriching a small Third World elite.

Perkins explains that his real task - rarely discussed but always understood in high government and business circles - was to deliberately exaggerate growth forecasts in countries like Peru, Ecuador, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The goal was for these countries to +fail+ to achieve their inflated targets and so be unable to repay their loans. The point being, as Perkins writes, that Third World leaders would then “become ensnared in a web of debt that ensures their loyalty“. As a result, American interests “can draw on them whenever we desire — to satisfy our political, economic, or military needs. In turn, they bolster their political positions by bringing industrial parks, power plants, and airports to their people. The owners of US engineering and construction companies become fabulously wealthy”. (Ibid, p.xi)

THE “NEEDS” INCLUDE MILITARY BASES, VOTES AT THE UN, CHEAP ACCESS TO OIL AND OTHER HUMAN AND NATURAL RESOURCES. PERKINS DESCRIBES THIS AS A NON-MILITARY MEANS FOR ACHIEVING “THE MOST SUBTLE AND EFFECTIVE FORM OF IMPERIALISM THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN”. (IBID, P.139)

Bankrupt debtor countries have thus been forced to spend much of their national wealth simply on repaying these debts even as their people sicken and die from malnutrition and poverty. For example, international banks dominated by Washington loaned Ecuador billions of dollars from the 1970s onwards so that it could hire engineering and construction firms to improve life for the rich. In the space of thirty years, poverty grew from 50 to 60 per cent, under- or unemployment increased from 15 to 70 per cent, public debt increased from $240 million to $16 billion, and the share of national resources allocated to the poor fell from 20 per cent to 6 per cent.

Today, Ecuador is required to devote nearly 50 per cent of its national budget to debt repayment - leaving almost no resources for millions of citizens classified as “dangerously impoverished”. Out of every $100 worth of oil pumped from the Amazon, less than $3 goes to Ecuadorian people dying from lack of food and potable water.

Perkins is clear that, waiting in the wings should the economic hit men (EHMs) fail, are the real hit men - “the jackals”. He writes of Jaime Roldós, president of Ecuador, and Omar Torrijos, president of Panama, who both died in plane crashes:

“THEIR DEATHS WERE NOT ACCIDENTAL. They were assassinated because they opposed that fraternity of corporate, government, and banking heads whose goal is global empire. We EHMs failed to bring Roldós and Torrijos around, and the other type of hit men, the CIA-sanctioned jackals who were always right behind us, stepped in.” (Ibid, p.ix)

Perkins writes of Roldós‘s death in May 1981:

“It had all the markings of a CIA-orchestrated assassination. I understood that it had been executed so blatantly in order to send a message. The new Reagan administration, complete with its fast-draw Hollywood cowboy image, was the ideal vehicle for delivering such a message. The jackals were back, and they wanted Omar Torrijos and everyone else who might consider joining an anti-corporate crusade to know it.” (Ibid, p.158)

Torrijos was killed just two months later. This is the likely fate that awaits Chavez, Morales, and other Third World leaders currently being ridiculed by the British press.

The last fifty years have seen a vast bloodbath as Washington has funnelled money, weapons and supplies to client dictators and right-wing death squads battling independent nationalism across Latin America. Britain’s only left-wing daily newspaper, the Morning Star - with a tiny circulation of between 13,000-14,000 - is a lone voice describing some of these horrors. Dr Francisco Dominguez, head of the Centre for Brazilian and Latin American Studies at Middlesex University, writes:

“Military dictatorship, death squads, torture, assassination, economic blockade, economic genocide, military intervention, wanton repression, corruption and every other means intrinsic to capitalist and imperialist ‘management techniques’ has been utilised to secure the profits of primarily US multinationals and the wealth of the privileged few. Mass unemployment and mass poverty are just two extra means with which to obtain compliance with the economic and political pillage of the continent.” (Dominguez, ‘Latin America takes centre stage,’ Morning Star, November 22, 2005)

JOHN PILGER ADDS:

"In the US media in the 1980s, the ‘threat’ of tiny Nicaragua was seriously debated until it was crushed. Venezuela is clearly being ‘softened up’ for something similar. A US army publication, Doctrine for Asymmetric War against Venezuela, describes Chávez and the Bolivarian revolution as the ‘largest threat since the Soviet Union and Communism‘." (Pilger, op., cit)

WHO BENEFITS?

The answer is provided by Professor William Domhoff of the University of California at Santa Cruz in his study ‘Wealth, Income, and Power In the United States’. Domhoff reports that as of 2001, the top 1% of US households owned 33.4% of all privately held wealth, and the next 19% had 51%, indicating that just 20% of the people owned 84%, leaving only 16% of the wealth for the bottom 80%. In terms of financial wealth, the top 1% of households had an even greater share: 39.7%.

In terms of types of financial wealth, the top 1 percent of households have 44.1% of all privately held stock, 58.0% of financial securities, and 57.3% of business equity. The top 10% have 85% to 90% of stock, bonds, trust funds, and business equity, and over 75% of non-home real estate. Domhoff comments:

“Since financial wealth is what counts as far as the control of income-producing assets, we can say that just 10% of the people own the United States of America.” (G. William Domhoff, ‘Wealth, Income, and Power In The United States,’ February 2006; http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html)

These fabulously wealthy elites own politics, they own the media, they control what the American people know, see and think. In Britain, the top 5% of the British population own 45% of the nation's wealth - they also run politics, the economy and the media in their own interests.

Naturally, then, elite journalists reflexively declare that the United States and Britain are passionately intent on bringing democracy to the world. A recent BBC radio talk show asked: “Are 100 British soldiers' lives too high a price to pay for democracy in Iraq?” (BBC Radio Five Live)

This, despite the fact that the income ratio of the one-fifth of the world’s population in the wealthiest countries to the one-fifth in the poorest countries went from 30 to 1 in 1960 to 74 to 1 in 1995.

Despite achieving bestseller status by word of mouth, Perkins’ account has been all but ignored by the mainstream British press since its publication last year, receiving mentions in just four articles. In one of these, a Sunday Times reviewer wrote:

“One measure of the success of an author is whether his book passes the ‘laugh out loud’ test. John Perkins’s had me in stitches. The problem is, it is not meant to.” (David Charters, ‘A miss not a hit,’ Sunday Times, March 5, 2006)

CYNICALLY IGNORING THE ISSUES AND EVIDENCE, CHARTERS DISMISSED THE BOOK AS “RIDICULOUS”: “IF IT WAS NOT SO LAUGHABLE, IT COULD BE DEPRESSING.” THE BOOK HAS RECEIVED SIMILAR TREATMENT IN THE US PRESS.

WE SHOULD BE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS.

The corporate media oppose Chavez because the corporate system is viscerally opposed to policies that are unleashing democratic hopes in Venezuela. It takes a moment’s thought to understand that greater democracy, equality, justice and popular empowerment are +not+ in the interests of a system built on exploitation. As John Perkins comments of the media:

“Things are not as they appear... Our media is part of the corporatocracy. The officers and directors who control nearly all our communications outlets know their places; they are taught throughout life that one of their most important jobs is to perpetuate, strengthen, and expand the system they have inherited. They are very efficient at doing so, and when opposed, they can be ruthless.” (Perkins, op. cit, p.221)

As long as we support this corporate media system - as long as we hand over our money for its product, for its phoney ’balance’ and subliminal smears - it will continue to subordinate the welfare of millions of human beings to corporate greed.

[andend] - Story at MediaLens - pls scroll down - Url.: http://www.medialens.org/alerts/06/060518_ridiculing_chavez_the.php

This is a free service but please consider donating to Media Lens: www.medialens.org/donate.html

FPF - RELATED:

* 'Confessions of an economic hit man.' World Bank insider Perkins explains: "Jackals' are C.I.A. sanctioned people that come in and try to foment a coup or revolution. If it doesn't work, they perform assassinations, or try to." They steal billions for the World Bank, IMF, USAID, UNDP, AID etc. - It's your life too: Must watch Video Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8171.htm

* And this is where the billions go, the 'BIS' - "The Bank for International Settlements" - Who controls global monetary affairs? The BIS! Based in Basle, Switzerland, the BIS is central bank to central banks. The BIS has greater immunity than a sovereign nation, is accountable to no one, runs global monetary affairs and is privately owned. This is a must-read report to understand the globalization process." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6xmed

* THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

HR this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Former long-time confidant accuses Ariel Sharon of assassinating Yasser Arafat

2007-01-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

To those knowledgeable about Israel's history since it became a state in 1948 and earlier, this revelation, if true, should come as no surprise. All Israeli governments have a long and disturbing record of conducting targeted assassinations in Israel and abroad as it suited them against all persons thought to be a threat to the Jewish state.

FORMER LONG-TIME CONFIDANT ACCUSES ARIEL SHARON
OF ASSASSINATING YASSER ARAFAT

by VHeadline.com's Chicago-based commentarist Stephen Lendman

Monday, January 01, 2007 - Longtime and now recently deceased confidant to former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Uri Dan, published a book in France that may have been his 2006 one titled 'Ariel Sharon: An Intimate Portrait' in which he accused the former prime minister of assassinating Palestinian Authority (PA) President Yasser Arafat by poisoning him.

Dan claimed Sharon got approval from George Bush by phone early in 2004 to proceed with his plan after he told the US president he was no longer committed to "not" liquidating the Palestinian leader who then was under siege and practically incarcerated in what remained of his Ramallah compound, most of which had already been destroyed by the Israelis in a lawless act of retribution against him.

Based on his record during his tenure as Texas governor, when he authorized more death row inmate executions than any US governor in history (and was called by some the Texecutioner), this revelation should come as no surprise. It's even clearer based on Ariel Sharon's boast once about his relationship with George Bush saying: "We have the US president under our control."

Arafat died on November 11, 2004 at age 75 in Paris ... he was taken there on October 29 that year and hospitalized for treatment for an undiagnosed illness that began developing in April and became serious enough for him to need special care.

It may have already been too late when he arrived as he slipped into a coma on November 3 and remained in that state till his death eight days later from what was explained at the time as complications from a blood disorder. Indeed it may have been true if his blood was poisoned by a substance able to work slowly and from which no cure was possible at least once the former Palestinian leader arrived in Paris.

CONDUCTING TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS

To those knowledgeable about Israel's history since it became a state in 1948 and earlier, this revelation, if true, should come as no surprise. All Israeli governments have a long and disturbing record of conducting targeted assassinations in Israel and abroad as it suited them against all persons thought to be a threat to the Jewish state.

From his earliest days in 1969 as Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman and President, Arafat went from enemy to ally and back to enemy again under various Israeli governments depending on his willingness to deny his people their rights in service and pledging fealty to Israeli authority as he did in agreeing to the Oslo Accords, or Declaration of Principles (DOP), signed at a White House ceremony in September, 1993.

This was an agreement from hell, a disgraceful act of surrender, giving Israel what it wanted and Arafat and his cronies a "get-out-of-Tunis-free pass" (where they took refuge when forced out of Lebanon after the 1982 Israeli invasion) to return to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) where he agreed to serve as Israel's enforcer against his own people. As it always was earlier and since that time, the Palestinians got nothing but the right to have their lands stolen and lives immiserated with the help and duplicity of their own leader and those complicit in his Fatah-led government.

They endured this fate until the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Mosque (or Second) Intifada on September 28, 2000 following Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to what Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary in occupied East Jerusalem. It's gone on since unabated up to and following Arafat's death and led to the democratic election of a Hamas government in January, 2006.

SUPPLIED BY WASHINGTON AT US TAXPAYER EXPENSE

Fed up with the corrupted Fatah party under Arafat (now under Palestinian President and loyal Israeli servant Mahmoud Abbas), the long-suffering Palestinian people voted them out in an election the Israelis and Bush administration thought they had "arranged" properly enough to assure their preferred quisling party would remain in power but learned to their dismay it didn't turn out that way. It also didn't turn out as Palestinians hoped either as Israel and the US, with complicity or silence from the West, conducted a scorched earth campaign against a defenseless people through invasions, daily attacks with sophisticated and powerful weapons (supplied by Washington at US taxpayer expense), targeted assassinations and other daily killings, mass arrests and incarcerations, a systemic policy of torture, destruction of property, and denial of the most basic rights and services essential to life and survival.

And that leaves out all the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did to the Lebanese people over the summer that will take a least many years to recover from if Israel will even allow it to happen.

Throughout it all, the courageous Palestinian people continue struggling daily for their freedom and the right to be treated as human beings to live in peace in their own land - against the greatest odds with virtually no outside support or any show of caring about their desperate state even from within the Arab world.

If Ariel Sharon murdered Yasser Arafat, it should surprise no one, and further, if proved beyond dispute, it would never be reported in the US corporate-controlled media even if it made headlines in Israel which might be possible in a country allowing far more press freedom than the total lockdown of it in "the land of the free and home of the brave" where no press freedom is allowed through dominant news and information sources and only is through alternative sources like the one through which readers are now receiving this report.

As we begin the new year with the 110th Congress about to convene on January 4, it's one of many issues to reflect on and consider what we ought to be doing about it in our own behalf.

Stephen Lendman

Blog - Url.: http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/

Email: lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net

FPF - RELATED:

FPF/HR - Israel Poisoned Arafat - Url.: forpressfound.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/israel-poisoned-arafat.html

* Arafat: For whom the bell tolls? - Url.: http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/81203/index.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Mary Pitt Hits Us All in the Pit of the Stomach

2006-12-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

FPF fwd. - agreeing with Franklin's Focus

All the best wishes for the next year and nearby future! Because it can hardly get worse than it is now, isn't it?

Conc. Mary Pitt & Gore Vidal - Links below.

Mary Pitt Hits Us All in the Pit of the Stomach

Franklin's Focus 12/29/06 - I am forwarding a piece sent to me by my Net friend T. It was written by a woman in her 70s, who is as tough as steel. She absolutely refuses to coddle us. Her words feel like stinging slaps in the face.

As you finish this essay, you just might feel as though you've been kicked in the pit of your stomach. If so, all the better. I love a thinker who sees exactly what has happened in America and what is awaiting us all in a country that is sliding so fast into a totalitarian dictatorship, it is breathtaking.

ALAS, THE MARY PITTS OF THIS NATION HAVE BEEN FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

Nearly every blogger on the Net has been dancing around an ongoing neofascist coup ever since it was unleashed on September 11, 2001.* I love this woman. I hope we are placed in the same internment camp when the time comes. - [FPF - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y9r2n6]

The only major, in depth, gutsy intellectual figure in this country who has been telling it like it is from day one is Gore Vidal. He has often been described as 'America's leading person of letters'. That he is, and much more. His historical novels, covering American history since independence, arguably constitute one of the most penetrating histories of America ever written. Born on 3 October 1925, he now is an octogenarian, and he is still fighting for you and me.

I wish I could somehow give him and Mary Pitts a long hug. People such as these two are near miracles in the morass of America's anti-rational, militaristic, predatory, Darwinistic culture. Throughout my entire adult life, I've been saying this day would eventually be upon us. I just did not believe I would actually witness it in my lifetime. I guess I did not believe it would happen so easily and so quickly. It was perhaps unthinkable that 535 representatives of the American people would actually stand by like mute statues as a small junta brazenly destroyed our political system and corruptly sank our economy.

We are not alone. I believe there are forces at work in this century that will put an end to constitutional democracy almost everywhere. The 21st century will be a century of totalitarian states. Homes of democracy such as the US, UK, Australia, and India, have already gone a long ways toward creating police states. It is a force that is now sweeping the world. - [The Netherands is a warning example - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yfujjg]

Sixty-five years ago, Erich Fromm laid out the trajectory that constitutional democracies would likely follow. He saw the human animal as unable to live with the risks and heavy responsibilities woven into a state of freedom. He saw humans living with freedom and predatory capitalism as becoming alienated, dehumanized, robotic.

When the right leaders came along with the right kind of rhetoric and forcefulness, they would easily manipulate these people and lead them down a path into totalitarianism. 20th century civilization was one wherein citizens increasingly became willing to submit to a total state. WW II seemingly stemmed this drift, but the movement away from freedom would reassert itself, largely under the leadership of Empire America.

SADLY, THOSE OF US WHO LOVE FREEDOM, WILL BE DRAGGED ALONG WITH THOSE WHO FLEE FROM ITS GLORY.

Today's Quotations

'Can freedom become a burden, too heavy for man to bear, something he tries to escape from? Why then is it that freedom is for many a cherished goal and for others a threat?' - Erich Fromm, 'Escape From Freedom' 1941.

'Is there not also, perhaps, besides an innate desire for freedom, an instinctive wish for submission? [like in Islam] If there is not, how can we account for the attraction which submission to a leader has for so many today? ... Is there a hidden satisfaction in submitting, and what is its essence?'

Ibid

'What is it that creates in men an insatiable lust for power? Is it the strength of their vital energy --- or is it a fundamental weakness and inability to experience life spontaneously and lovingly?

Ibid

Warmest regards,

Richard

(This woman is a force of nature. Her husband died last week. Then she missed the funeral, because her son came to pick her up, and found her unconscious on the floor. They rushed her to the hospital, and installed a pacemaker. Now here she is, firing off another op-ed! Unknown.)

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FPF & RELATED LINKS:

* PRES ACTION ARTICLES BY MARY PITT - Franklin's Focus' article concerns "Too little too late." - Url.: http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/listing/C102

* THE EXCELLENT GORE VIDAL ARTICLE - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15978.htm

* SANFORD: ANOTHER JOURNALIST 'SUICIDED'? - Story Url.: http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/index.php

* PENTAGON THREATENED TO KILL JOURNALISTS - FPF/HR - Granma - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/bkzum

* NEVER TRUST ANYBODY UNDER THIRTY + GORE VIDAL - FPF Blog - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y9ntcq

* ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* THE UNITED STATES IS DEFIANT OF ANY LAW ANYWHERE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjaqkk

* US HENCHMAN PINOCHET ALSO THOUGHT HE COULD "LEGALIZE" TORTURE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y9p2vs

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S GULAG'S SECRET JAILS - Url.: web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS US FOR VIOLATIONS OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE - Url.: www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/tort-m12.shtml

* THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* US LEGALIZES TORTURE OF AMERICANS AND COLLABORATORS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/eom7k

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* SCHOLARS FOR 9/11 TRUTH - American and other scientists, diplomats, researchers etc.: What happened on 9/11? - What is happening to our world? - How can we improve our situation? - Url.: http://www.st911.org/

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Hanging Saddam is inhuman and illegal - Who's next?

2006-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

Hanging Saddam for 148 victims? George Bush as Texas governor was named 'Texecutionor' as the biggest Serial Killer with 155 victims. Compared to Bush's 655.000 estimated deaths in Iraq, Saddam Hussein is a bad apprentice. But murder is murder: whoever does it.

LYNCHING COMMON SENSE

FPF/HR Dec. 30th 2006 - Apparently the people in power do not understand which impact the hanging of Iraq's former ruler and US friend* Saddam Hussein this early Saturday morning has in especially the Arab/muslim world. American author Mary Pitt is correct in writing that now all cards are down concerning the US junta. Either you draw or loose she correctly writes. [http://tinyurl.com/ymfuu2]

And while the unnatural advocates of capital punishment* dance on Saddam's grave, humanity ought to be mourning this renewed confirmation of the death of common sense among the 'advisers' of the US junta. According to outside the US's sphere of influence international law and the Geneva Conventions are still valid. According to those limits, stipulations and agreements the hanging of Saddam Hussein - and most of the action by the US war machine - according to the Geneva Conventions - also signed by the US - is illegal. As I wrote before, last November 5th, in an article which without change can be republished today:

BUSH KILLED AN ESTIMATED 655.000 IN IRAQ...

According to all outside the US valid international laws and the also by the US signed international treaties and conventions, changing a constitution, holding elections or appointing courts and judges in occupied territory is absolutely prohibited and illegal. And so are the 'verdicts'.

The Geneva Convention, Article 54 reads: "The Occupying Power may not alter the status of public officials or judges in the occupied territories, or in any way apply sanctions to or take any measures of coercion or discrimination against them, should they abstain from fulfilling their functions for reasons of conscience." This is confirmed in the The Hague War Convention, also signed by the earlier existing US, before it became a totally lawless dictatorship.

"Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced (today) Sunday to hang for crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of 148 people in a single town, as the ousted leader, trembling and defiant, shouted "God is great!" As he, his half brother and another senior official in his regime were convicted and sentenced to death, Saddam yelled out, "Long live the people and death to their enemies. Long live the glorious nation, and death to its enemies!" (AP - formerly a 'news agency' - Now AP stands for 'American Propaganda')

Apparently the junta in the US abusing the world with the US/NATO war machine via the Pentagon, still refuses to understand that might does not make right, and their lies are globally spread again by war propaganda outlets like AP in the US and it's media collaborators, the parrots and 'spin doctors' in the US colonies. In The Netherlands for instance, the slavishly compliant and so called 'Christian government' betrayed as usual all decency, and the by 81% of the Dutch despised Washington stooge and PM Balkenende in the Dutch US compliant media called the illegal verdict 'satisfying'.

BUSH IS GUILTY OF AN ESTIMATED DEATH TOLL OF 655.000 IN IRAQ

This is not the inhuman and usually by the Washington 'crazies' concocted Kafkaesque idiocy anymore: this way of denial but anyhow acting is taken straight out of the 'smoke and mirror' fables of 'Alice in Wonderland'. Are we all supposed to have forgotten the fact that all over the world, and even in one of the Washington junta's worst propaganda papers, The Washington Post* it was published that in Iraq alone the US warmongers are guilty of an estimated death toll of sixhundred-and-fifty-five-thousand (655.000)?

A team of American and Iraqi epidemiologists estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred. The estimate, produced by interviewing residents during a random sampling of households throughout the country, is far higher than ones produced by other groups, including Iraq's government. It is more than 20 times the estimate of 30,000 civilian deaths that President Bush gave in a speech in December. It is more than 10 times the estimate of roughly 50,000 civilian deaths made by the British-based Iraq Body Count research group.*

It's there for everybody to see who can still read the overwhelming signs and understand why this creature Bush with his sick, dope and drink diluted mind, by the double nationality junta was put in the White House. As a front man for the junta's war machine and now - according to the latest dictatorial decree signed October 17th 2006 - via Bush they can order torture, kill and let disappear anybody in the world. It is fascism optima forma, but fully supported by the war machine's collaborators and their vile propaganda parrots in the US and its colonies.

EXECUTION OF MENTALLY RETARDED

In Texas Bush has left the 'Office of The Texas Governor' to his Lt. Governor Rick Perry, sworn in as 47th Governor of Texas on Thursday, December 21, 2000. Unfortunately Governor Perry, like his predecessor Bush, had little or no concern for the credibility of the Texas justice system. So Perry vetoed legislation that would have banned the execution of the mentally retarded. Proving what civilization is worth in Texas and among so called 'Christians' in the US. They can't even spell the word decency, those 'christian nuts' as Bush, Rove et.al. call the - them supporting - hypocrites behind their backs.

MASSAGE, SEX AND METHAMPHETAMINES

As was proved for the umpteenth time by Ted Haggard, the hypocritical ''President of the National Association of Evangelicals'' with 30 (thirty) million brainwashed members all over the US. Haggard admitted receiving massage from a man who claims to have exchanged sex for money with the church leader for three years. Haggard stepped down Thursday after Michael Jones, 49, said he had been having paid sex with Haggard once a month for three years and helped provided him with methamphetamine. That was bad, because Bush and the junta counted on their by fake 'religion' blinded support in the as usual rigged 'election' next Tuesday.

AMNESTY WARNED EARLIER

In London, commenting on Bush's killing record, a spokesman for Amnesty International earlier said: "We fear Governor Bush's record on the death penalty - he has presided over more than 150 executions, including of juvenile offenders, the mentally impaired and the inadequately represented - which does not bode well for efforts to rein the USA back from its increasing resort to judicial killing." It did not help that Amnesty many times urged Bush ''to adopt a broader awareness of human rights and international standards than he has displayed in Texas." - But he only got worse.

The death penalty is an issue that has caused widespread outrage in Europe, most dramatically in Italy where the late Pope John Paul was at the forefront of criticism of Washington and demanded an end to the taking of lives by governments in rogue states like the US. Yet most Americans are brainwashed, in denial, and/or unaware of the global uproar.

And for all the talk from private activists and officials on all levels in the corridors of power, those who sometimes are seen as 'moral leaders' but have much to do with cultivating the money making transatlantic partnership in key areas like defense and trade, those 'moral leaders' are still silent. And if you're silent you agree.

THE UNITED STATES TORE OUT 8000 PAGES OUT OF THE IRAQ DOSSIER FOR THE UN

They did not for instance say a word either, when the United States junta tore out 8000 pages out of the Iraq dossier for the UN, pages which were evidence, proving the US is ten thousand times worse than Saddam ever was. It ought to be quite clear who the real war criminals are: the Washington junta again making 'fall guys' of their former buddies in Iraq this time. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yem6pc

But not even reports on all war crimes, torture or 655.000 dead in Iraq moves those creatures. Implying their absolute guilt by association, which the war crimes tribunals will take care of.

Capital punishment like hanging is wrong: it's much better to give Bush, the junta and their collaborators everywhere on earth, a life time sentence, so the punishment works as long as they vegetate in jail.

They deserve every second of it.

Henk Ruyssenaars

[andend] - Story also published in Washington DC - Url.: http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/136542/index.php

* Saddam Hussein shaking hands with Donald Rumsfeld who was again on a sales trip to Iraq - pictures - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yfz2am

* Google's selection of the mainstream propaganda concerning the hanging in Baghdad - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yjdnue

REFERENCES:

* Bush the Texecutioner - Url.: http://www.ccadp.org/serialpresident.htm

* International Outrage over Texecutioner Bush - Url.: http://ccadp.org/texecutioner-outrage.htm

* Like the fake constitution: elections or verdicts in Iraq are illegal - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/o5zpe

* Baghdad Burning - Riverbend on the illegal US made 'Iraq Constitution' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ybs6jf

* THE UNITED STATES TORE OUT 8000 PAGES OUT OF THE IRAQ DOSSIER FOR THE UN - Url.: http://www.sundayherald.com/30195

* The Independent (UK) - 655,000: The toll of war in Iraq - Url.: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article1842559.ece

* October 29, 2004 - 100,000 Iraqi dead - THE LANCET Report - The new study released in the U.K. this morning by the British medical journal of reference, THE LANCET, is devastating. - Url.: http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2004/10/100000_iraqi_de.html

* The Nuremberg principles: "Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefor and liable to punishment." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/byurp

* 'The war in Iraq is illegal' - BBC: video & text-interview of the United Nation's Secretary General Kofi Annan - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/5pl2v

* Reference guide to the Geneva Conventions - Url.: http://www.genevaconventions.org

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* British MP George Galloway stated totally correct: ''Blair, Olmert and Bush are murderers'' - Url.: http://beirut.indymedia.org/en/2006/08/5072.shtml

*Throw out war propagandists like the BBC, FOX, CNN etc.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
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-0-

Somalia: US Foreign Policy and Gangsterism

2006-12-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

FPF-fwd. Justin Raimondo

The failed UN/US intervention of 1993 led directly to the triumph of the warlords, who plundered, raped, and murdered their way through the streets of Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, and reduced the country to Mad Max territory. - The same deadly chaos - made in the US - now again is fomenting more hate.

CIA IN SOMALIA: REPEATING THE BLACK HAWK DOWN BLOWBACK

US mainstream media globally are repeating the propaganda lies about Ethiopia 'feeling threatened' by Somalia. Trying to tell us that the for a decade US/CIA trained, dressed and equipped Ethiopian armed forces, seen as one of the best in that part of the world, was threatened by a dirt poor country with no army?

MEMORIES OF A MASSACRE

Intro by Henk Ruyssenaars - Ex Africa correspondent

FPF comment - Dec. 29th 2006 - Not only is the CIA for the US managers repeating the same mistake in Somalia as in 1993, but the horrible role they and their henchmen execute (literally) reminds of the same tactics used by Hitler's SS Leader Reinhard Heydrich: "On September 1, 1939, World War Two began with the Nazi invasion of Poland. As a prelude to the invasion, Heydrich had engineered a fake Polish attack on a German radio station at Gleiwitz, Germany, a mile from the Polish border, thus giving Hitler an excuse for military retribution." Heydrich and spin Meister Goebbels had the corpses dressed in fake Polish uniforms. Heydrich's Nazi buddy Gehlen after that war helped starting the CIA, so they got a lot of experience.*

Like now the US mainstream media globally are repeating that Ethiopia felt 'threatened.' So the US trained, dressed and equipped Ethiopian army was threatened by a dirt poor country with no army? Give people a break! This far the US junta and the CIA again only fully succeeded in making themselves still more hated, and a couple of more million people very angry. Because a couple of thousand innocent people in Somalia are very dead, many are wounded, and they all have family and friends. And all know and understand it's not the Ethiopian or Ugandan people as such, but the US/CIA with their brainwashed 'leaders' and by them armed mercenaries which are responsible for the misery and killings. Paid for by taxes extorted from the US americans and EU/NATO victims.

THEY'LL FIGHT BACK

And believe me, I've lived there long enough: they'll understandably take revenge the very second they can. Even if it's ten years or a century later. But revenge they'll get. When occupying forces have no respect for their lives: why should they have respect for the root of all evil? So be sure: they'll fight back, which according to the Geneva Conventions - which are valid outside the US sphere of malignant influence - is their legal right and plight concerning occupants.

As a former Africa correspondent during ten years I've said and written the same as Justin Raimondo does in the interesting article below. Raimondo describes what's really happened, the sheer stupid inhumanity again resulting within short in the umpteenth 'blowback' for the CIA and it's managers. But the managers 'the others' never die: only human beings do. - [The 'others': http://tinyurl.com/v49l3] - I've seen the immense suffering in this continent too, caused by foreign invasions, their usuring systems and the inhuman way people are treated and die because of them. For every dollar ''invested'' in Africa, at least SEVEN dollars are taken out.

STOLEN LIVES, LANDS AND PROPERTY FROM THE MILLIONS

And for ages foreign groups have enriched their circles with the stolen lives, lands and property from the millions of people trying to make a living. Now the US junta with the usurped war machine, including their United Nations, NATO etc. wants to 'create their own reality' at the cost of anybody or anything on earth. What they 'create' is a 'reality' in which human beings don't count. And never have counted. People are used for profit as #1 war criminal and junta consigliere Heinrich Kissinger said about the troops being used: they're dumb animals to be used as pawns and slaughtered. And two legged catastrophes like the disgusting greedy Geldof and belligerent Bono praise murderers like Bush & Blair while drowning the global usury and ongoing genocide in a tsunami of music. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ycudvd

After the start of more illegal US junta wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and the permanent holocaust of the Palestinians by Israel which has been going on for half a century, the oil and natural gas rich eastern part of the African continent is deliberately set on fire. Latin America by the way ought to be next. The US/CIA starting a war with Venezuela to get the oil and to terminate president Chavez' life and his policy and humane philosophy. That human beings count, and not only profit. And while the by the US junta run United Nations and some colonies say they will help, this 'help' has been going on for ages too: dropping for instance the life expectancy for people in many African countries to below forty five years of age. They help'm in their massgraves. That's why USAID was renamed USAIDS... The effect is the same: you can die.

And all over the world there is NOT ONE country to be found where - what they always claim - thanks to the US and it's financial groups as it's called: the 'International Murder Fund' IMF or the World Bank - the standard of living for the LOCAL people has become better. On the contrary: the countries and it's people are taken as lambs to the not so kosher slaughter and bled to death. And this group is doing it to the US americans too. Like Norman Montague who orchestrated the Great Depression, the people running the 'war theaters' have no loyalty to the US. They only use and abuse the US American passport. The people in power lie and millions die. And because of the propaganda most people don't even know what they are sacrificed for. Why their blood was turned into 'the others' gold.

All over the world the group in power deliberately foments wars and murder wherever a profit is seen.* Be it (blood) diamonds, gold, silver, oil, natural gas or any other resource which is not too heavy or hot to handle. And if they think it's good for business or they want to cover up something via their massmedia they'll do another 9/11 and similar 'false flag' operations. Or to get a high propaganda 'Nielsen rating' hang their buddies like Saddam Hussein too. Who compared to Bush and his junta is like a nasty boy scout. But it's a good thing Justin Raimondo has seen the light at the end of the tunnel and - like most of us - he writes because he doesn't want 'them' to switch it off, everywhere. They themselves must be 'switched off.' A soon as is possible.

SOMALIA: US FOREIGN POLICY AND GANGSTERISM

WHY THE US SUPPORTS THE WARLORDS

by Justin Raimondo

December 29, 2006 - In our Orwellian age, no one is surprised when American foreign policy takes a U-turn, and, suddenly, we are at war with Eastasia – because, you see, we have always been at war with Eastasia. Yet even the most jaded observers are bound to raise an eyebrow over our embrace of the Somalian warlords, whose disarmament and capture was our announced goal the last time we intervened. That failed effort, you’ll recall, was dubbed "Operation Restore Hope."

Now we are back, albeit semi-covertly – using Ethiopia, a major recipient of American arms and technical support, as our proxy – in a new project that ought to be named Operation Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here. In the post-9/11 Bizarro World alternate universe that our leaders and policy makers seemed to have slipped into, the Bad Guys have become the Good Guys, and the formerly fiendish Somalian warlords are now part of the "anti-terrorism coalition" that the U.S. is assembling in the region.

A little history: The failed UN/U.S. intervention of 1993 led directly to the triumph of the warlords, who plundered, raped, and murdered their way through the streets of Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, and reduced the country to Mad Max territory. In response, an "Islamic courts" movement sprang up to impose some sort of cohesion on a rapidly disintegrating social order. The business community and public opinion rallied behind these courts, which were and are all that stand between civilization and savagery in Somalia.

As I’ve pointed out before, the long history of U.S. intervention in Somalia is a veritable case study of how and why American foreign policy always manages to generate the deadliest, most horrific "blowback," as the intelligence professionals put it. Blowback, a concept exhaustively explored in Chalmers Johnson’s classic book of the same title, means the unintended consequences of our bumbling, culturally tone-deaf, invariably unsuccessful efforts to manipulate local proxies to maximize our alleged national interests. In the 1990s, the Americans intervened in the name of "humanitarianism," against the warlords; in the new millennium, we have tossed aside humanitarian concerns in favor of the ruthless pursuit of "terrorists," real or imagined. The former "warlords" hunted by U.S. troops and blamed for Somalia’s shocking degeneration into pure chaos are now aided and abetted by the Americans and their Ethiopian cohorts.

This latest American turnabout – flooding Somalian warlords with money and arms – came about largely as the result of an imaginary confrontation between U.S. officials and supposed "terrorists." It happened a year ago, when U.S. government personnel investigating possible terrorist infiltration of Somalia landed at a makeshift airport just outside Mogadishu. No sooner had their plane set down uneasily on the tarmac than they heard shooting, and, assuming they were under fire, beat an unceremonious retreat. As far as the U.S. government was concerned, this was clearly an ambush, pulled off by terrorist elements possibly associated with al-Qaeda.

In reality, however, the Americans had stumbled into a conflict involving two rival clans, one of which controlled the airport, and the other which had recently purchased a large tract of land bordering the road to the airport. The former were outraged that this purchase would cut into their very profitable extortion and protection racket, and that their control over the heavy road traffic would be challenged. This led to an escalating series of threats and counter-threats, eventually exploding, on January 13, 2006, into open violence just as the American visitors touched down.

The protagonists in this dispute were characterized by the Washington Postas follows:

"Abukar Omar Adan was a devoutly Islamic and heavily armed clan elder with ties to the strict neighborhood religious courts that had brought a semblance of order to a city without a government.

His rival, Bashir Raghe, was a brash, younger man who had been a waste contractor with the U.S. military forces in Mogadishu before the United States pulled out."

GUESS WHICH ONE IS THE U.S. PROXY.

No, it’s not the bourgeois businessman and city father whose stature in the community as a force for order advertises him as the natural and only logical choice – it’s Senor Raghe, the street punk and gang leader, who, together with his fellow killers, has reduced Somalia to a kind of living hell.

When the warlords were driven out, the U.S. resorted to its ally in Addis Ababa to return its gangster-proxies to power. Washington has openly signaled its support for the Ethiopian invasion, which is shortly about to be billed as a "liberation" and a great "victory" in the "war on terrorism." The illusion can be maintained only so long as one squints one’s eyes sufficiently to blur the exact identity of these "liberators" – Somalian thugs and the army of Ethiopia’s dictator, "President" Meles Zenawi.

A former pro-Albania communist and leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, comrade Zenawi morphed into George W. Bush’s staunchest ally in the Horn of Africa. U.S. military aid increased by leaps and bounds. Zenawi’s trajectory parallels Somalia’s Mohamed Siad Barre, the former Soviet client and avowed Marxist, who seized power in 1969, immediately became a Soviet client, and eventually led his Somalian Socialist Revolutionary Party into a military and political alliance with the U.S. (The Soviets had championed Barre's Ethiopian arch-enemies in the ongoing dispute over the Ogaden region.) One of Africa’s most brutal despots, Barre enjoyed Washington’s full support right up until he was driven from the country, in 1991, by numerous local uprisings.

Zenawi is a budding Barre. In the summer of 2005, his U.S.-trained-and-equipped army fired on student protesters who objected to the blatant rigging of the recent election: over 20 were killed, and many wounded. This same army has now turned its guns on the Somalian people, violated Somalian sovereignty, and set up a puppet Somalian "government" that virtually no one in Somalia recognizes –again, with full American support.

Our complete misunderstanding of Somalia, its culture and unique politics, has led us into the trap of making decisions based on ideological constructs rather than anything related to the facts on the ground. The blundering into a local clan dispute and mistaking it for an armed attack on U.S. interests is emblematic of the problem: in the end, it seems, it’s always about us. A foreign policy founded in the spirit of hubris, and based on pretensions to "global hegemony," is inevitably blinded by a disabling narcissism.

That is what’s really frightening about U.S. foreign policy and the decision-makers who have such an adverse impact on the lives of people around the world. These guys are wandering around in the dark, utterly clueless: i.e. they’re typical government employees.

Policy is made not only with imperfect knowledge but with a complete disdain for knowledge, as such. That’s for the "reality-based community," as one White House advisor put it to Ron Suskind – those vulgar empiricists who insist that American policy must have some anchor in factual knowledge, as opposed to the neo-Trotskyite wet-dreams of various neoconservative gurus and White House speechwriters.

This anti-realist methodology is precisely what lured us into Iraq. In the case of Somalia, yet another quagmire beckons with its siren song of "fighting terrorism." How long before Ethiopia requires the presence of U.S. "advisors" – in addition to those already there – can probably be measured by the time it takes to post this piece. No doubt U.S. "emergency" aid to Ethiopia is being rushed to Zenawi even as I write, and you can bet we won’t hear much protest anywhere. Certainly not from most Democrats in Congress. Anyone who doubts that the U.S. is acting out of motives other than those that are proclaimed will immediately be smeared as an enabler if not outright supporter of "terrorism." Congress hasn’t got the gumption to cut off aid to the death squad "government" of "liberated" Iraq – and I doubt they’ll deprive murdering dictator Zenawi of his blood money as compensation for their cowardice.

I WOULD LOVE IT, HOWEVER, IF I WERE TO BE PROVED MISTAKEN, BUT I’M NOT GOING TO HOLD MY BREATH.

The Islamic courts movement was a logical response to the condition of Somalian society, and the complete absence of any law enforcement whatsoever. For the Americans to hold up this movement as proof that "terrorism" has taken power in Somalia is the best evidence that, as Michael Scheuer puts it, the U.S. government is Osama bin Laden’s one "indispensable ally."

If al-Qaeda is credited with reversing the threat of a complete social breakdown in Somalia, and the gangster warlords we once held responsible for the country’s torment, in league with a foreign invader, is held up as the only alternative, then surely the terrorist leader is smiling somewhere in a deep dark cave, rubbing his hands together and chortling at his extraordinary good fortune.

Justin Raimondo

[andend] - You can find this article at: http://tinyurl.com/y39c65

He is the author of several books, including:

* Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement, Center for Libertarian Studies, June 1993. ISBN 1883959004

* An Enemy of the State: The Life of Murray N. Rothbard, Prometheus Books, July, 2000. ISBN 1573928097

FPF - RELATED LINKS:

* HR: ''CIA WITH ETHIOPIA VS SOMALIA: ANOTHER U.S. PROXY WAR'' - url.: http://tinyurl.com/yl25w7

* NAZI SS GEHLEN AND THE CIA - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ykjb5c

* THE PROFITABLE WARS AND THE LONDON WAR LORDS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/hvtxo

THE CIA MARCHES ITS ETHIOPIAN MERCENARIES INTO SOMALIA: HOW DO THOSE WARS START? AND WHO PROFITS? - Here's the answer: 'Confessions of an economic hit man.' World Bank insider Perkins explains: "Jackals' are C.I.A. sanctioned people that come in and try to foment a coup or revolution. If it doesn't work, they perform assassinations, or try to." They steal billions for the World Bank, IMF, USAID, UNDP, AID etc. - It's your life too: Must watch Video Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8171.htm

* US "DEATH SQUAD PROTECTION ACT" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

-0-

Greg Palast: New Orleans — Still Under Water

2006-12-27T17:15:00.000-08:00

A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW WITH GREG PALAST

The White House knew [the levees broke] because the Army Corps of Engineers sent them photographs. Again, I want to emphasize that the White House had the photographs of the levees breaking, and didn’t tell state and local officials who had stopped the evacuation because the hurricane missed New Orleans. Everyone thought they dodged a bullet, but the White House didn’t tell anybody the levees broke and were drowning the city. — Greg Palast

Greg Palast is just unstoppable, and after you watch his remarkable new DVD, “Big Easy to Big Empty: The Drowning of New Orleans,” you’ll understand why. You have read about the Katrina disaster for more than a year now, but you’ll see it in a new light after watching Greg Palast’s reporting.

In an expanded documentary that now includes a half-hour interview with Amy Goodman, Palast, in his usual bold style, reveals new factual details about the Bush Administration complicity in the deaths of Katrina victims. You’ll be convinced by the end of watching “Big Easy to Big Empty” that what we are dealing with here is criminal negligence.

******

BuzzFlash: Greg your new DVD, “Big Easy to Big Empty: The Untold Story of the Drowning of New Orleans” is absolutely shocking because all of the footage you shot was one year after Katrina hit New Orleans. After all the devastation, virtually nothing has happened to recover from Katrina, and the residents have been left to fend for themselves. [end quote]

Pls. continue reading ‘New Orleans — Still Under Water’ - Palast site:

Url.: http://gregpalast.com/

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
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-0-

CIA with Ethiopia vs Somalia: another U.S. proxy war

2006-12-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

"The press must not be allowed to make this about Ethiopia, or Ethiopia violating the territorial integrity of Somalia,” The same violations as the US junta is guilty of in neighboring Sudan which still refuses an invasion by twenty-two-thousand (22.000) so called "peace keepers"

THE LAWLESS US WITH ETHIOPIA IS VIOLATING THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF SOMALIA

Henk Ruyssenaars - Ex Africa correspondent

FPF - Dec. 27th 2006 - Today The New York Times in it's daily stream of propaganda confirms the support of the US junta's CIA for this new war against Somalia, another inhuman atrocity by the US using the usual and stupid, worn out pretext: "American intelligence officials theorize that the Islamists, who wrested control of Mogadishu in June from a coalition of warlords supported by the Central Intelligence Agency, have ties to a Qaeda cell based in East Africa that is responsible for the bombings of the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998."

And if that wasn't enough to enlarge the usual pack of lies by Washington: "A spokeswoman for the State Department, Janelle Hironimus, said Ethiopia was trying to stem the flow of outside arms shipments to the Islamists. Ms. Hironimus added that Washington was concerned about reports that the Islamists were using child soldiers and abusing Ethiopian prisoners of war." This is absolutely baloney, scare mongering propaganda. None of this is true of course but the US propaganda mill grinds on against better human judgement.

THE PRESS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED...

According to the New York Times: "On Tuesday, a day after an Ethiopian jet strafed the airport in Mogadishu, the capital, the State Department issued internal guidance to staff members, instructing officials to play down the invasion in public statements. “Should the press focus on the role of Ethiopia inside Somalia,” read a copy of the guidelines that was given to The New York Times by an American official here, “emphasize that this is a distraction from the issue of dialogue between the T.F.I.’s and Islamic courts and shift the focus back to the need for dialogue.” T.F.I. is an abbreviation for the weak transitional government in Somalia. “The press must not be allowed to make this about Ethiopia, or Ethiopia violating the territorial integrity of Somalia,” the guidance said.*

The same violations as the US junta is guilty of in neighboring Sudan which still refuses an invasion by twenty-two-thousand (22.000) so called "peace keepers": an illegal occupation by heavily armed US/UN troops in oil rich Darfur to get the natural resources there. Also there the US junta makes the civil wars and other problems, nd then uses the by them run United Nations to solve it killing and drilling under a UN fig leaf of humanitarian help.

ETHIOPIA HAS HAD THIS FALSE "HUMANITARIAN HELP" BY THE US, IT'S IMF, THE WORLD BANK, THE FAKE NGO'S AND SIMILAR KILLING AND ROBBING GROUPS FOR TEN YEARS: THE LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS BEEN LOWERED TO FORTY-FIVE (45) YEARS. WHICH HELP? THEY KILL PEOPLE DAILY AND BY THE MILLIONS!

In a comment called "Somalia: in a hole and digging faster," David Seaton writes: "If you thought Bush was going to "go quietly" you are in for another think. Perhaps Bush's only chance to avoid his own personal humiliation is to widen and deepen the crisis. He is looking at a level of failure, exposure to ridicule and universal repudiation that few human beings will ever have to face. Although he makes much of his Christianity he doesn't seem to cultivate the Christian virtues of meekness, humility, repentance and truthfulness. The failure of conspicuously Christian, Jimmy Carter's presidency is nothing beside Bush's and if I can't imagine Bush resigning himself to a lifetime of redemption through good works... is this a failure of my imagination? So be prepared for universal collapse, catastrophe and war. Bush is his own little apocalypse." DS*

This is what via FPF was published yesterday: "US backed Ethiopia declares war on Somalia" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/vtrwd

"IN SOMALIA, A RECKLESS U.S. PROXY WAR."

In a comment even published by the 'International Herald Tribune' Salim Lone writes from Nairobi about this new incredible breach of all laws* and decency by the US junta in the article: "Undeterred by the horrors and setbacks in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, the Bush administration has opened another battlefront in the Muslim world. With full U.S. backing and military training, at least 15,000 Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia in an illegal war of aggression against the Union of Islamic Courts, which controls almost the entire south of the country.

As with Iraq in 2003, the United States has cast this as a war to curtail terrorism, but its real goal is to obtain a direct foothold in a highly strategic region by establishing a client regime there. The Horn of Africa is newly oil-rich, and lies just miles from Saudi Arabia, overlooking the daily passage of large numbers of oil tankers and warships through the Red Sea. General John Abizaid, the current U.S. military chief of the Iraq war, was in Ethiopia this month, and President Hu Jintao of China visited Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia earlier this year to pursue oil and trade agreements.

The U.S. instigation of war between Ethiopia and Somalia, two of world's poorest countries already struggling with massive humanitarian disasters, is reckless in the extreme. Unlike in the run-up to Iraq, independent experts, including from the European Union, were united in warning that this war could destabilize the whole region even if America succeeds in its goal of toppling the Islamic Courts.

[FPF: GLOBALLY:] THOUSANDS OF NEW ANTI-U.S. MILITANTS AND TERRORISTS

An insurgency by Somalis, millions of whom live in Kenya and Ethiopia, will surely ensue, and attract thousands of new anti-U.S. militants and terrorists.

With so much of the world convulsed by crisis, little attention has been paid to this unfolding disaster in the Horn. The UN Security Council, however, did take up the issue, and in another craven act which will further cement its reputation as an anti-Muslim body, bowed to American and British pressure to authorize a regional peacekeeping force to enter Somalia to protect the transitional government, which is fighting the Islamic Courts.

The new UN resolution states that the world body acted to "restore peace and stability." But as all major international news organizations have reported, this year Somalia finally experienced its first respite from 16 years of utter lawlessness and terror at the hands of the marauding warlords who drove out UN peace keepers in 1993, when 18 American soldiers were killed.

Since 1993, there had been no Security Council interest in sending peacekeepers to Somalia, but as peace and order took hold, a multilateral force was suddenly deemed necessary — because it was the Islamic Courts Union that had brought about this stability. Astonishingly, the Islamists had succeeded in defeating the warlords primarily through rallying people to their side by creating law and order through the application of Shariah law, which Somalis universally practice.

DOMINATED BY THE WARLORDS AND TERRORISTS

The transitional government, on the other hand, is dominated by the warlords and terrorists who drove out American forces in 1993. Organized in Kenya by U.S. regional allies, it is so completely devoid of internal support that it has turned to Somalia's arch- enemy, Ethiopia, for assistance.

If this war continues, it will affect the whole region, do serious harm to U.S. interests and threaten Kenya, the only island of stability in this corner of Africa.

Ethiopia is at even greater risk, as a dictatorship with little popular support and beset also by two large internal revolts, by the Ogadenis and Oromos. It is also mired in a conflict with Eritrea, which has denied it secure access to seaports.

The best antidote to terrorism in Somalia is stability, which the Islamic Courts have provided. The Islamists have strong public support, which has grown in the face of U.S. and Ethiopian interventions. As in other Muslim-Western conflicts, the world needs to engage with the Islamists to secure peace.

[andend] - 2006 The International Herald Tribune - Story Url.: http://iht.com/bin/print.php?id=4017649

RELATED:

* DAVID SEATON'S BLOG & COMMENTS - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y99mrx

* THE NEW YORK TIMES WAR PROPAGANDA: "Warlords supported by the Central Intelligence Agency, have ties to a Qaeda cell based in East Africa that is responsible for the bombings of the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998." - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y5vbum

* R.I.P. HABEAS CORPUS & POWERLESS JUDGES - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* ETHIOPIAN WAR INVASION: THE ICC - THE 'INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT' IN THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, is absolutely in it's present form NO valid alternative for Justice, respecting human rights. The ICC never protests any of the horrible gigantic war crimes against humanity by the US/Israeli war machine. - Url.: tinyurl.com/p4lxz

* ETHIOPIA DECLARES WAR ON SOMALIA - Google's selection always backing the mainstream media - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yayqff

* Story 2006 from allAfrica.com - Url.: http://allafrica.com/stories/200612250185.html

* Al Qaeda – The Database - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqx69

* Al Qaeda is a hoax - Url.: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/fakealqaeda.html

* Very informative SudanNet info on US Africa policy - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ynhlkz

* Sudan: Killing and Drilling for Oil - Who's making fake rape videos in Darfur? - Sudan refuses an invasion by 20.000 US/UN troops in oil rich Darfur. - Url.: nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/77586.htm

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* DUTCH AUTHOR HR this far has lived and worked abroad (never in an English speaking country) for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent. Of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in North Africa, the Arab World and covering the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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US backed Ethiopia declares war on Somalia

2006-12-26T17:19:00.000-08:00

No Happy New Year for a couple of million people in the Horn of Africa. By the US junta's media the hoax of Al Qaeda is used again, this time to start a war by accusing Somalia. The lack of evidence is as always covered with propaganda, bombs and drowned in blood. With the help of Uganda.

FPF - Dec. 26th 2006 - The fact that US backed Ethiopia declared war on Somalia, starting to kill and destroy the people and country, is justified by all US mainstream media. According to the propaganda Ethiopia is fighting 'al Qaeda and it's terrorism'. Seeing that pretext, we all know something is fishy. That's correct. We are for instance not supposed to know that last December 6, the US/UN/NATO's so called 'Security Council' in New York of course 'approved' a US backed 'draft resolution' which calls for a stop of the arms embargo on Somalia; the latest free-fire zone.

Meaning the US arms industry and other criminals are 'justifying' all they via the CIA etc. have sent already, and in the future will sell to them. Because the group which is supposed to take the power in Somalia using the al Qaida fake is backed by the US. And the group stupidly accused of 'terrorism' like so many others is the 'Islamic Courts Union' which build schools, gave medicare and some future to the people.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, told his country in a televised address that they felt threatened by Somalia. Which was a blatant lie, backed by the mainstream media as usual. And so they bombed with US trained pilots in Northrop planes of what now is called 'the Ethiopian air force'. The whole scheme is backed by the US junta and it's war machine. Included in it's global intelligence and financing are also the Ethiopian collaborators which now have started another proxy war for the US interests. The whole coffee market (Starbucks) in Ethiopia is in multinational hands, and more than fifty percent of the people are dirt poor. No wonder the average Ethiopian is not getting older than 45 to fifty. That's what the global thieves and usurers from the World Bank, IMF, USAID and other forms of fake 'development' have done: they bleed every country and most people to death.

In the meantime the 'gov't stooges' in Ethiopia are expecting at their headquarters in the capital Addis Abbeba that it may also solve some of Ethiopia's own problems. As the 'special advisors' from the US etc. have told them. Since Ethiopia is landlocked, they also want to get the strategic and profitable harbors and coast of Somalia. Both Ethiopia and Eritrea are already in the junta's hands, and now it seems to be Somalia's turn. The map at a glance explains how strategically important this war is. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yz23qz

RICE: INVOLVES UGANDA IN THE WAR

This new disaster 'made in the US' was also discussed last Friday during the 'bury-bad-news-days' by U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with Ugandan foreign minister Sam Kutesa in Washington. The US has via their stooge Musaveni whom they made prime minister in colonized Uganda already special forces and troops in neighboring Somalia and wants Uganda to play a significant role in the US operation called ''the East African peacekeeping mission''.

Expected to protect the beleaguered Somali government which is supported by the US but based in the southern town of Baidoa instead of the now bombed capital Mogadishu. According to the globally despised Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice she believes that al-Qaeda elements are backing the rebel Islamic Courts Union. Which of course is total idiocy and the usual pretext to further the own interests of the US junta. Whether in this conflict engulfing the Horn of Africa one or ten million people die is totally irrelevant to the warmongers involved. Hundred thousands have already become refugees, on the run for the new quagmire the US war machine and it's mercenaries have started.

ETHIOPIA HAS 25 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS

To the US junta and their managing warlords in London, Ethiopia is very important because they also have twenty-five Billion cubic meters of natural gas in proven reserves. So the US group has developed the collaboration for years, equipping and training people of the Ethiopian army in the US etc. According to military sources the Ethiopian armed forces are by far the best troops in East Africa. "America has long seen Ethiopia as its major ally in Africa, and a staging ground. It's where the US Air Force can land its planes to sort of, you know, spy on the Middle East." Like Israel is running parts of Eritrea. On the propaganda agenda is also the chosen government in Sudan which refuses an invasion by 20.000 US/UN troops in oil rich Darfur.*

The growing tragedy of this war - again made in the US - and unfolding further is a major escalation of the geopolitical wars in East Africa. This time between the by many people supported clerics of the 'Union of Islamic Courts' and the US made 'government'. And as always the clownesque and US supporting Quislings of the 'Arab League' led by US/Egyptian Amr Moussa, called yesterday for all parties involved to ''immediately hold a comprehensive cease-fire.'' They'll never say the US junta should stop their killing and destroying too, because then they themselves are stopped. One way or the other.

And the group doing this for profit and power has been stealing also the African continent blind for ages.

Blaming them for not being able to see.

HENK RUYSSENAARS

* ETHIOPIA DECLARES WAR ON SOMALIA - Google's selection always backing the mainstream media - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yayqff

* Story 2006 from allAfrica.com - Url.: http://allafrica.com/stories/200612250185.html

* Al Qaeda – The Database - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqx69

* Al Qaeda is a hoax - Url.: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/fakealqaeda.html

* Very informative SudanNet info on US Africa policy - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ynhlkz

* Sudan: Killing and Drilling for Oil - Who's making fake rape videos in Darfur? - Sudan refuses an invasion by 20.000 US/UN troops in oil rich Darfur. - Url.: nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/77586.html

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - for ten years in North Africa, the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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The 10 Top Idiots of the Year 2006

2006-12-25T21:51:00.000-08:00

HR comment: As an in The Netherlands born and independent foreign correspondent, I've also for ten years lived in the North Africa/Mideast area, trying to understand and 'cover' the geopolical changes. I think this list is very small but fully correct.

10 Top Idiots of the Year 2006

IMAM BADI ALI OF GREENSBORO, North Carolina says that 2006 was the year of the IDIOT. New Trend defines an idiot politically as a person who does not know that he/she is being used, is ego oriented and forcefully carries out a hidden political agenda, thus falling prey to the actual forces at work in the political arena.
New Trend has come up with the following IDIOTS of the year 2006 after consulting and searching far and wide for people who would fit into our definition of the IDIOT. Here are the top 10:

1. MAHMOUD ABBAS [ABU MAZEN] the President of the Palestinian Authority who is a toy in the hands of the Israelis and his western backers. He started thinking that he is really the President of Palestine!

2. KING ABDALLAH OF JORDAN. He plays America's game without realizing that for America he is no more than a playboy who fulfils the current agenda of the imperialist powers. Poor fellow! He sometimes starts believing that he, really, is the King and a Hashemite to boot!

3. GENERAL MUSHARRAF, "PRESIDENT" OF PAKISTAN: He struts and frets on the Pakistani stage, selling his country's secrets, his religion, his army, his people, and all who trusted him. America keeps "upping the ante:" Bomb this village, arrest that Muslim, kill so-and-so [Bugti for instance], torture the Muslim who came from UK. Musharraf jumps and obeys. Perhaps somewhere in the back of his mind he realizes that he is being used: When America has had enough of him, he will be thrown out like a rat!

4. HOSNI MUBARAK, THE TYRANT OF EGYPT. Hosni has built barricades of human bodies around himself: those his secret police has killed, those his expert torturers have broken and maimed, those who fill his prisons on suspicion of being "Islamic fundamentalists." He wants to forget that his existence is based on the billion dollar annual bonus his boss in the White House gives him. Hosni starts pretending that he in fact is the Pharoah and has the power of life and death. He wants to to pretend that the CIA, FBI and Mossad agents protecting him are not there and that he is an independent ruler!

5. KARZAI, THE RULER OF KABUL. This one is really pathetic. The Americans built him up as the 'democratic" ruler of "democratic" Afghanistan. He was so pumped up that he forgot not only Islam but the traditions and honor of the Pushtun people. He puts on his fancy dress and comes to Washington and Ottawa to be cheered by the White Master. The Taliban are waiting to string him up.

6. BRITAIN'S BLAIR, BUSH'S "BOYFRIEND" [some call him] or " Bush's poodle" as his own people call him. He lives in a fantasy world where he thinks he can make Muslims fight each other [in the name of fighting "extremists"]. A dupe of the Zionists, he thinks he can fool Palestinians into recognition of "Israel.'

7. AMRE MOUSSA, THE CLOWN OF EGYPT. He helped Hosni crush Gamaa al-Islamiyya, sent his troops into mosques and homes and undermined Egypt's Islamic will. He has been promoted to be in charge of the Arab League, where he sits around talking at length about the future of the Arab nations. Little does he realize that he is no more than a pawn of the western powers.

8. "IMAM" W.D. MUHAMMAD REPRESENTS AMERICA ON THIS LIST. The White House used him to neutralize African-American Muslims and to put them into the service of U.S. plans to generate an "American Islam." The community could not be mobilized to free Imam Jamil al-Amin and to confront Zionist tyranny owing to his foolishness. W.D.'s followers became a little cult which claimed that their leader was the "man of the Millenium. The "imam" is proud of his connection to the State department which has been sending out W.D.-types all over the Muslim world to teach the toothless new "American islam" thought out by the Rand Corporation.

9. KOFI ANNAN, FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UN. It took him 8 years to realize that he was not important and had been used by the western powers. [His Jewish-Swedish wife was his ticket to promotion.] Only at the very end, he started uncovering the role his masters played in Iraq and want to carry on in Iran. It was too late. He looked foolish.

10. DONALD RUMSFELD, AMERICA'S WARLORD AND ATTACK DOG IN IRAQ, had delusions of grandeur. He thought he would set up a new system in Iraq where U.S. military might would be decisive in all matters. He called the resistance "dead enders" and "ba'athist leftovers." Only too late, he found that an uprising of the people of Iraq was taking place led by revolutionary Islamic forces. As thousands of martyrdom operators ["suiciders"] week after week and month after month slammed into U.S. armored columns and recruiting centers of Iraqi collaborators, "Rummy's" dreams went up in smoke.

Too late, he realized that his ego had blinded him. The real agents behind the Iraq war, the Zionist Jews like Wolfowitz, Perle, Feith, Lieberman, Kristol, Krauthammer, Kissinger, prospered, and some were even promoted.
"Rummy" was dumped.

[enditem] - New Trend Magazine. - Url.: www.newtrendmag.org

Email: butshikan@msn.com - New Trend, P.O. Box 356, Kingsville, MD 21087.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are not necessarily shared by the editors. New Trend does not endorse violence of any kind. Information on news or views related to violence is for analysis and understanding, not for endorsement. New Trend is against racism, classism, gender superiority, Zionism and Imperialism. The Qur'an and the authentic Hadith are our foundation. All views are welcome but only a selection can be published owing to high volume of mail. Anyone criticized in New Trend has the right of reply up to 300 words. - Zulhijjah 2,1427/December 23, 2006

Via PIR - Url.: http://tajdeed-list.net/mailman/listinfo/pir_tajdeed-list.net

FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/jwgqa
The Netherlands
FPF@Chello.nl

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Newsweek & the Iran war show goes on

2006-12-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Newsweek item below is typical of 'alibi journalism': 'But we also published criticism.' they'll whine in defense of their betrayel at coming war crimes tribunals. A betrayel of humanity now again when taking part in the run up to the planned war with Iran. After a US made 'UN resolution' yesterday made Iran stop the IAEA inspections too...

Iran war show goes on: US is holding Iranians seized in raids in Iraq.*

by Henk Ruyssenaars - Foreign correspondent

FPF - Dec. 25th 2006 - NEWSWEEK as a platform for information was never there when honesty or some form of objectivity was needed. By falsifying the facts they have played an absolutely disgusting and inhuman role. Because when their owners and bosses decided on unjust, horrible wars proceeded by illegal invasions, they defended the march to Armageddon. Maybe Iran is next. They betrayed humanity and didn't raise their voices in protest. But as other cowardly collaborators everywhere on earth they are the Devil's advocates and the US junta's 'fellow travelers'.

The piece now published in Newsweek by Eleanor Clift is interesting as such. Especially when it's not excused for a second what enormous guilt they also have. Only describing a thousandth part of what Newsweek and other propagandists never wrote about when people should have been informed. Told the facts, so people are informed and able to avoid the global disaster now hitting humanity. Giving the US 'Colossus' it's clay feet. Buying Newsweek and it's 'normally' fake and false flag stories is like watching their TV. And buying the 'media manure' from all others making people pay for lies and propaganda. This week's Newsweek will justify this too: arresting Iranian diplomats is OK... US Might makes Right? No way! Murderous US 'might' makes the rest of the world fight. Against it and in legal resistance.

US ARRESTS DIPLOMATS?

Like in the New York Times propaganda this Christmas, when in those "bury-the-bad-news-days" the reason is given why the US/UN/NATO must attack Iran. Not only is there a cooked up and 'US made' UN 'resolution' used as 'proof', but - contrary to earlier existing international protocols for diplomatic relations - the US troops in Baghdad last Thursday stopped an Iranian embassy car - which they are not allowed to - and arrested the Iranians. Quote: "An administration official in Washington disputed that, saying, “When the military conducted the raids, they really didn’t know who they were going to find.” - So much for the US intelligence service CIA etc. Paid with more than forty billion tax dollars per year...

Now they can put a 'stun belt' - the US confession machine - on the Iranian people and make them 'confess' anything. From attack and war plans to dirty bombs. Whatever the torturing spooks and their henchmen think is necessary for their mad plans. Right now the Washington junta and it's managers are wondering how to abuse and use those illegally held people to further the war plans and gains. And Newsweek will not tell the truth again.

The US torturers can make the Iranian 'military officials' they illegally captured say ''Iran wants to attack the US''. Or Washington explains soon that: ''The US lost - sorry: 'can not win immediately' - in Iraq because in reality 'we had to fight Iran too' which secretly with it's oil billions invaded and fought along in the terror". "Terror" as the US junta and their media call legal resistance by the occupied people.

But all war propagandists like CNN, FOX, ABC and all others anywhere, like the BBC under the oversight of boss Michael Grade - [http://tinyurl.com/l687f] - will confirm the 'stun belt' 'confessions' which can be used as 'proof' to attack Iran, stop negotiations or similar. The US torturers can and will make the Iranians - anybody by the way, you too - say and 'confess' anything with fifty-thousand Volt. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/lznn2

HOLDING POLITICAL LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE?

In the item about a lot of lies by Bush and company Ms. Clift writes about 'holding political leaders accountable', but that is something which hasn't happened for many decades. And in many countries which have been colonized by the US junta's managers the situation is the same and thus bad for human beings. The real culprits and their Hydra trying to destroy humanity, is never mentioned. No wonder: they do not only own the monkeys in the street gathering the money: they own the organ and decide the music. And they also own you and wht yu think is 'your money'. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y6xmed

So for once - and because it's the end of the year - Newsweek is allowed to be the dissonant in their disgusting war craving choir. People all over the world will recognize most of the items mentioned, but what Newsweek and similar Master's Voices have done is unforgivable. The BBC by the way was worst of all with only two percent war dissent. 'BBC' now is short for 'Broadcasting Blair's Crap'. And they too will be remembered as long as people live. Like Bush and his managers, 99% of the US junta's media have been lying and people keep dying. Newsweek offers the one percent exception this last week of 2006, publishing some of the blatant lies they helped to spread.

In a this rare 'web exclusive commentary' Eleanor Clift writes about "Bush's Worst Lies of 2006" using the subtitle "A look back at some of the biggest falsehoods of 2006." Ms. Clift and the rest of the junta's collaborators may use it to reread when they are in prison for life. Which they all deserve for their criminal collaboration helping to fabricate one of the worst nightmares ever for hundreds of millions of human beings the world over. It's not only the so called 'leaders' who must be held accountable: all those compliant propagandists must be punished too.

Anyhow: here's the discord in their war propaganda, licking the boots of their 'Führers": "Dec. 22, 2006 - In the spirit of holding our political leaders accountable, this year-end review will tabulate the worst lies told by Bush and company, along with several stories that were underreported in the media. Much of what was generated got lost in the fog of war, but the long arm of history will retrieve these moments.

As the president said in his news conference this week, if they’re still writing about No. 1 - George Washington - there’s plenty of time before the historians can properly evaluate No. 43. Judging by the mess in Iraq, it could be 200 or 300 years - if ever - before Bush is vindicated.

WE’RE NOT WINNING, BUT WE’RE NOT LOSING?

Bush has shifted his rhetoric in deference to the grim and deteriorating reality on the ground in Iraq. Asked by a reporter on Oct. 25 if we are winning the war, Bush said, “Absolutely, we’re winning.” Offered the opportunity at his press conference to defend that statement, Bush has adopted a new formulation. He now says, “We’re not winning, but we’re not losing.” That sounds like the definition of a quagmire.

You'll find the rest here at URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16326716/site/newsweek/

Related links:

* UN Figures Show: US Controls Iran Permanently - Url.: http://www.countercurrents.org/us-henk160805.htm

* AND NOW THE US WARMONGERS REACHED THIS: Members of parliament in Iran yesterday ratified a motion to suspend IAEA inspections - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yatlkj

* UN Santa Claus gives Iran Resolution 1737 - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ye3e22

* U.S. is holding Iranians seized in raids in Iraq - Mon. 25 Dec 2006 - The New York Times- Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yx7mt9

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* THE USE OF THE PHRASE 'ANTI SEMITISM' IS PURE NONSENSE - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwhf

*THROW OUT WAR PROPAGANDISTS LIKE THE BBC, FOX, CNN ETC.! - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/07/1632.php

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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The Warmonger's Brigade - Michael Gaddy

2006-12-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

FPF-HR: This is a great idea. The best 'Christmas Surprise' this far...also for the mainstream media morons. Friend Kirwan: "This guy sure has the right antidote for peace on earth!"

THE WARMONGER'S BRIGADE

by Michael Gaddy

December 22, 2006 - It appears the Bush administration has a real problem on its hands - the war effort is not going well at all and the military is on the verge of "breaking." I do believe I have a plan, which if implemented right away could provide the needed relief Bush is desperately searching for. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If this country is indeed in danger of having to fight the enemy on our soil, it is time to pull out all stops. If the Bush administration is serious about "protecting our freedom" and this is not a war started on lies to increase the bottom line of companies from the Military Industrial Complex, it is time to deploy the Warmonger's Brigade.

FIRST BATTALION would consist of all male and female members of the immediate families of everyone in the Bush administration. Of course W's daughters would be the first to be placed in this battalion, followed closely by Dick "water boarding" Cheney's daughter, Mary. I am aware that she is pregnant at this time but within a reasonable time after giving birth, she could rejoin her battalion in preparation for deployment to the Iraq Theater of Operations. After all, her significant other is also female so the infant will not lack for maternal care. This administration has found no problem with sometimes deploying both parents to Iraq, so Mary Cheney being deployed would be business as usual.

Included in this battalion would be the children of all cabinet members, led of course by any eligible children of Alberto "torture is ok" Gonzales. I'm sure Karl (the leak) Rove has some children, nieces or nephews that would make good cannon fodder. Included in this battalion would be all eligible employees and family members (18 to 38 years of age) of CIA, NSA, DIA, and BATFE. Since these agencies have declared war on American civil liberties, extending the declaration to include real enemies should present no problems.

IMMEDIATELY DRAFTED FOR SERVICE

So he would not feel left out, all of Donald Rumsfeld's eligible kin would be immediately drafted for service, even though he is no longer with this administration. They of course would be required to ride in unarmored Humvees while wearing Vietnam Era flak jackets.

SECOND BATTALION would consist of all family members of those in Congress who have supported the war in Iraq. Chelsea Clinton could vie for command of this battalion with eligible members of the McCain family. Charles "slavery is okay if you're serving the state" Rangel could insure that all members of the Black Caucus have their relatives fitted for new uniforms, trained, and ready for deployment.

ALL MALE AND FEMALE MEMBERS OF THOSE AT FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC etc.*

THIRD BATTALION would consist of all male and female members of those at FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, and the Weekly Standard. Of course all relatives of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and William Kristol, followed closely by relatives of those at the New York Times, War Street Journal, and the Washington Post would receive orders for immediate deployment. All other media outlets in this country that have supported this war would also see their children deployed for immediate service in the "global war on terror."

FOURTH BATTALION would consist of members from all the church leaders in this country who have blindly supported the illegal invasion of a country that posed no threat to us. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson and others would of course dutifully escort their family members to the induction centers and then volunteer for support duties themselves. No deferments for Conscientious Objector status would be allowed.

RECON BATTALION would consist of family members of all executives of companies in the Military Industrial Complex who has realized such huge profits from this war. No exemptions would be allowed. If a company is in business to profit from the blood of others, it should also be willing to provide the material (their children) to the effort that produces those profits.

AND ALL OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR SPORTS TEAMS

SPECIAL OPERATIONS elements of the Warmonger's Brigade would consist of all members of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR and all other professional and amateur sports teams. If service to this country when we are so at risk is really necessary, as this administration claims, we need combat troops more than we need to be entertained. With their wonderful conditioning and the fact many athletes would rather fight than play the game they are paid to play, combat would be an excellent alternative. Naturally, all members of professional wrestling and boxing would be given command positions in this unit.

STAFFING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS unit should be Max Boot, Cal Thomas, Ann Coulter, James Meigs, Andrew Sullivan, George Will and Charles Krauthammer. No one else could match this group when it comes to turning outrageous lies into palatable truth for the masses. Their lust for war is so strong they should be required to feel the sting of battle firsthand.

ANYONE DISPLAYING "SUPPORT THE TROOPS" ribbons would be eligible for immediate induction into the combat support battalion. Their children and grandchildren would be dispersed within the other combat battalions. If our country is in real trouble, supporting the troops should include providing the troops, and who better to do that than those who blindly support war.

If steps to establish the Warmonger's Brigade as outlined above are not immediately enacted by those in the White House, Congress and the Pentagon, they are either the biggest hypocrites on the planet or this war is a hoax.

Then again, it could be both.

Michael Gaddy

Michael Gaddy [send him mail], an Army veteran of Vietnam, Grenada, and Beirut, lives in the Four Corners area of the American Southwest.

[andend] - Url.: http://www.freedomunderground.org/view.php?v=3&t=3&l=2&aid=23108

* MICHAEL GADDY - Google selection - more articles - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydryqw

* ALL THE MEDIA MORONS AND PROPAGANDISTS IN A BATTALION - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/yl7dus

* KIRWAN author/artist etc. - home page Url.: http://www.kirwanesque.com/

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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Never trust anybody over thirty + Gore Vidal

2006-12-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

The comment concerns a very interesting and good article by american author Gore Vidal titled "I'm Jealous of Cuba": An Interview with Gore Vidal by Rosa Miriam Elizalde in "Counterpunch" and bylined Havana.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15978.htm

THEY 'CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY'

Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF - 23 Dec. 2006 - Gore Vidal is an excellent writer and this again is one of those articles that should be spread and reread. In the US itself to start with. But like many I do absolutely not share the hopes of Vidal and some others that the Democrazies - in this for 99 percent corrupted Congress with it's warmongering Lobbies - will goose march all of those criminals to the gallows.

The Dems have voted for every dirty $billion suggestion by the mafia running the US, and it's junta's war machine. $Billions are made by their banks and corporations because millions of human beings are killed in the quest for power and profit. And they go on sowing wars and reaping the profits from their killing fields. Turning our blood into their gold. There's absolutely no doubt about it: they all fully share the guilt. And not only by association.

THEY 'CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY'

As far as I can see and read nobody who's using her or his brain thinks that the corrupt Dems will make any difference whatsoever concerning the inhumane Armageddon course of the US Titanic. What the Dems do is to just go along with the murderous and robbing hoods of the junta, pocketing the money, meanwhile moving the deck chairs around and not hearing the band which louder and louder plays: "Nearer to you my God." But those psychopaths seem all to be deaf. To sound and facts. They say they ''create their own reality.'' The by them created 'reality' is not for human beings but for this group of insane 'humanoids'. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/v49l3

They too - and all of the US junta's collaborators of all nationalities deserve every second of punishment they will get. And the sooner the better it is for humanity. But the Dems nasty Nancy Pelosi and her racket has already said that they're not going to lift a finger to get the US junta members or their collaborators in front of a war crimes tribunal. Instead they again and for the umpteenth time give everybody the middle finger. Fooled again? Even a stubborn donkey - it's said - will not stumble on the same stone twice.

To keep it short: Gore Vidal is a great writer and it is a real pleasure reading him. Even if he doesn't elaborate on who declared war on Hitler and who financed him, dragging the US along on the road to the Bank of England, but 'hidden' history tells. - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/y2gqtq

But Gore Vidal is proving again that there are many 'good US-Americans' too. Strange is however that so many of the writers which also are the experienced and 'critical' ones in general on many sites mostly seem to be seniors, sharing their knowledge. Even if fear - as the junta planned it - has been spreading like a wildfire and it's dangerous to disagree with murderers and what their mercenaries are doing. It's now 'un-american' to criticize killers...

Many people however are by all propaganda and fakes too blinded to react anymore. They've grown up in a Potemkin village, with the junta's Hollywood façade in front of them. And they can't understand anymore, because they've never been taught to compare or question. Human capabilities like seeing the difference between right and wrong are disappearing worldwide. That's what is done to humanity by people who say they offer 'education'.

Which makes me think that I'm right - looking at the global effects of the brainwash for the past decades - when I say the old proverb has to be changed a bit:

Now it's: Never trust anybody under thirty...

Henk Ruyssenaars

* The excellent Vidal article - Url.: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15978.htm

* HR - Google links - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/jf8sl

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US: Military Draft System to be Tested

2006-12-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

The US junta after 18 years wants the military draft again. The war machine managers call it a 'test' but are gearing up for a draft. "Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." - Henry Kissinger, quoted in "Kiss the Boys Good-bye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam."

THE BURY-BAD-NEWS-DAYS

Intro by Henk Ruyssenaars

FPF/Amsterdam - 22 December 2006 - Most certainly the FPF wishes everybody all the best, but let's be careful. Those are very dangerous days concerning so called information: the "bury-bad-news-days". All crooks all over the world who deem this dirty trick necessary will in the coming (for many) holidays and up to two weeks publish/flash/hide a message/fake/lie/announcement/justification/law or whatever from which advantage is expected and to be able to afterwards justify the crimes. "It was published," they'll say in defense: "You should have known!" On paper it gives the criminals 'plausible deniability'.

The story below - and the of course supporting comments via the mass media propaganda channels are the flag that covers the corpses. Proving again that the strange group steering the US junta and it's war machine must be eliminated. Now they will feed more live human beings to their war Golem* through the military draft in the US. As if poverty wasn't enough to force poor youngsters to be made into cannon fodder. Pawns to be radiated while risking their lives in illegal occupations defending the economical interests of a very strange private group. This is a very good description of those creatures.- Url.: http://www.serendipity.li/bush/beyond_insanity.htm.

US: Military Draft System to be Tested

Associated Press | December 22, 2006 - WASHINGTON - The Selective Service System is planning a comprehensive test of the military draft machinery, which hasn't been run since 1998.

[This second line should be read as always WITHOUT the NOT words. - HR]

The agency is not gearing up for a draft, an agency official said Thursday. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009.

Meanwhile, the secretary for Veterans Affairs said that "society would benefit" if the U.S. were to bring back the draft and that it shouldn't have any loopholes for anyone who is called to serve. VA Secretary Jim Nicholson later issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.

The Selective Service "readiness exercise" would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and the network of appeals boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty, said Scott Campbell, Selective Service director for operations and chief information officer.

"We're kind of like a fire extinguisher. We sit on a shelf" until needed, Campbell said. "Everyone fears our machine for some reason. Our machine, unless the president and Congress get together and say, 'Turn the machine on' ... we're still on the shelf."

The administration has for years forcefully opposed bringing back the draft, and the White House said Thursday that its position had not changed.

A day earlier, President Bush said he is considering sending more troops to Iraq and has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to look into adding more troops to the nearly 1.4 million uniformed personnel on active duty.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, increasing the Army by 40,000 troops would cost as much as $2.6 billion the first year and $4 billion after that. Service officials have said the Army wants to increase its force by 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers and the Marine Corps would like 5,000 more troops.

The unpopular war in Iraq, where more than 2,950 American troops have already died, complicates the task of finding more recruits and retaining current troops - to meet its recruitment goals in recent years, the Army has accepted recruits with lower aptitude test scores.

In remarks to reporters in New York, Nicholson recalled his own experience as a company commander in an infantry unit that brought together soldiers of different backgrounds and education levels. He said the draft "does bring people from all quarters of our society together in the common purpose of serving."

Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat who has said minorities and the poor share an unfair burden of the war, plans to introduce a bill next year to reinstate the draft.

House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has said that reinstating the draft would not be high on the Democratic-led Congress' priority list, and the White House said Thursday that no draft proposal is being considered.

Planning for the Selective Service exercise, called the Area Office Mobilization Prototype Exercise, is slated to begin in June or July of next year for a 2009 test. Campbell said budget cuts could force the agency to cancel the test, which he said should take place every three years but hasn't because of funding constraints.

Hearst Newspapers first reported the planned test for a story sent to its subscribers for weekend use.

The military drafted people during the Civil War and both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. An agency independent of the Defense Department, the Selective Service System was reincorporated in 1980 to maintain a registry of 18-year-old men, but call-ups have not occurred since the Vietnam War.

[andend] - Story at US Military Com - Url.: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,121118,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

* GOLEM - Wikipedia Url.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem

* Google selection mainstream propaganda - US Draft - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ykm4sp

* US VOTERS SKEPTICAL: ASSOCIATED PRESS DECIDES? - From AxisofLogic.com - News Article - Oct. 28, 2004 - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/5zosu

* Rolling Stone : The Return of the Draft - "It shouldn't be just the poor and the working poor who find their way into ... Let us go home." _ Url.: www.rollingstone.com/politics/ story/6862691/the_return_of_the_draft/

* Call to Restore Draft is Protest Against Iraq War - The president is a fanatic to get us involved in a war with Iraq . ... we should not do it on the backs of poor people and minorities," Stark said. - Url.: www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0123-04.htm

* Should we Support a Draft? - However, I find myself very conflicted about the possibility of a military draft. ... Bush has given us a rich man 's war, and a poor man's fight. - Url.: www.commondreams.org/views04/0429-12.htm

* CounterRecruiter: February 26, 2006 - March 4, 2006 - Puerto Ricans from the island and in the U.S. were also disproportionately represented in front-line combat units. They, like other poor people... - Url.:
rncwatch.typepad.com/ counterrecruiter/2006/week9/index.html

* NOW IS, INDEED, THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY." - JOHN PROTEVI - 2006-10-01 - Story Url.: http://projectbraintrust.com/blog.html?p=84

* MAKING THE US AN EMPIRE: ''MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006'' - Wikipedia - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ydkywt

* R.I.P. Habeas Corpus & Powerless judges - Are we entering America's darkest hour? - Url.: http://www.cemab.be/news/2006/10/2015.php

* THE AMERICAN CONFESSION MACHINE: a 50.000 Volt 'stun belt' will make anybody 'confess' anything - Url.: tinyurl.com/lznn2

* US "Death Squad Protection Act" - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/6xdfw

* DEFINITION OF SEMITES from the Collins English Dictionary - [http://tinyurl.com/zj9y4] - "Semitic: a member of the group of Caucasoid people who speak a Semitic language, including the Jews and Arabs as well as the Ancient Babylonians (Iraqis), the Assyrians (Syria), and the Phoenicians (the Lebanese of today). Semitic: a branch or sub-family of languages that includes Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew.” - Palestinians and Lebanese for instance, are semites. The centuries old JDL gutter-cliché: "anti semitism' has always been a fake accusation, abused globally to kill discussions. Not anymore: Never again! But what the US/Israeli war machine is doing, is anti semitism on a global scale.

* The Dutch author this far has lived and worked abroad - never in an English speaking country - for more than 4 decades for international media as an independent foreign correspondent, of which 10 years - also during Gulf War I - in the Arab World and the Middle East. Seeing worldwide that every bullet and every bomb breeds more terrorism!

* FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html

FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor: Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/gpr4j
The Netherlands
fpf@chello.nl

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