2.07.2004
Documented
An independent filmaker documents what happens to the human organism if one consumes McDonalds food exclusively for 30 days. Link gleaned at Deborama.
My brain isn't working well. Ever have an evening like that? Poets exercise an economy of words...
Here's some poetry by Lawrence Ferlinghetti:
White Horse
Put the wine back in the bottle
Before the crystal glass is broken
The party is over
Goodbye
A new party has taken over
A new breed of men
as Henry Miller said
long time ago
A breed of barbarians
who didn't come through the gates
but grew up inside
They've made the White House
into a White Horse
their Trojan Horse
full of civilian soldiers
with weapons of crass destruction
which is a new name for their brains
or what might be diagnosed as
their pathological personalities
These masterminds
of the twenty-first century
and their Project for the New Century
And I heard the Learned Astronomer
tell the tale of the stars
in which the constellations conspired
to kill us all
out of pure hubris
and Territorial Imperative
since we were opposing
their total domination of the universe
And they hired these earthlings
In a White Horse
to do it for them!
Coincidentally Langston Hughes' Let America Be America Again" was posted here a bit over a year ago...
2/07/2004
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Over at The Obscurantist I came across a reference to the work of blogger Dave Neiwart, the man who authors the always informative Orcinus It is from The Valley Advocate, a quality free paper that I read in the Northampton MA area. I short but nice piece about a blog that should be regularly visited. His "Rush, Newspeak and Fascism: An Exegesis" really is a must read.
I discovered Neiwart's blog work shortly after beginning my popular education project here. Inspiring stuff.
Help democratize the truth. Spread what you learn, far and wide.
2/07/2004
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2.06.2004
A Bit On Putin, Khodorkovsky and Geo-Politics
"We have a society based on lies, a society in which democracy is used only as a formal procedure, a society based on a completely closed nature and, most importantly, a society based on fear," --Irina Khakamada
Vladimir Putin refuse to debate his contenders for the Presidency of Russia on TV. Colin Powell while visiting
Russia spoke strongly about the validity of Russian elections and the development of independent political parties as well as candidates access to state owned media.
The Putin government has suppressed media freedom over the last 3 years.
The Russian Parlimentary elections were described as "falling short of democratic standards". Two of Mr Putin's rivals for the Presidency support him. Polls show Putin to be an 80% favorite, only a voter turnout of less than 50% could invalidate what looks to be a one man show. Irina Khakamada, is running against Putin with no hopes of winning. Although she calls Putin on his handling of the Dubrovka Theater incident that resulted in the death of 129 hostages, mostly due to a narcotic gas used to incapacitate the Chechen fighters that had seized the theatre and its show attending occupants. Ms Khakamada is thought by some to be a "plant" to lend an air of credibility to the March 14 election.
Among the things Powell spoke negatively about in the Russian press was the arrest of billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Advisor to the Carlyle Group and a man with connections to Halliburton, as well purportedly as the Russian KGB- and mob . Khodorkovsky supports Putin's Liberal opposition, such as Ms Khakamada's SPS, The Union of Rightist Forces.
Powell also spoke out about the Russian military presence in Georgia. The energy rich former Soviet Republic has been home to Russian military bases, the nation now feels it is time for the Russians to depart. Russian authorities say the pull-out will take 11 years, which is unacceptable to the Georgians. The US, who has had an 18 month military training and equipping agreement with the government of Georgia which has just become permanent, has offered to help the Russians relocate financially. The US is also "donating" 3 million dollars to pay the salaries of the 3 battalions of Georgian troops we've trained to fight Arab Al Qaeda operatives, guerrillas even the defense minister of Georgia believes are not there .
Training this year will be farmed out to a company called Cubic, which has seen 91% of it's contributions go to the Republican party. this election cycle. In the 2002 cycle all money was given to Republican causes, 2/3 to the Republican Senatorial and Congressional Committees. The 25,000 dollars was also contributed to the campaign of Republican Senator Ted Stevens, who is on a great many commitees. Private corporations have inundated the military.
Ted Stevens was the first recipient of the Open Russia Foundation's Leadership Award. Mikhail Khodorkovsky is the companies founder.
2/06/2004
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2.05.2004
Neocons Under Investigation: Getting Caught in a Web of Deceit
Buzzflash had a headline posted that will interest you "Cheney's Staff Focus of Probe". It goes well with yesterdays post. Lewis Scooter Libby and John Hannah are reportedly under investigation for the the "leak" that allowed reporter Robert Novak to expose Joseph Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA operative who's "Agency" was concern weapons of mass destruction.
The link to yesterdays post concerns the fact that Hannah, as well as being a Neocon was listed in an Iraqi National Congress lobbyist's memo as one of two principle points of contact in the Bush administration for "raw" data" William Luti being the other.
..."defectors, reports and raw intelligence are cultivated and analyzed"; the info was then reported to, among others, "appropriate governmental, non-governmental and international agencies."
Mr Cheney has been denying that he bypassed properly analyzed intelligence in favor of unvetted and unreliable INC
info. Another INC lobbyist, Francis Brooke states that he too spoke with Cheney staffers Hannah, Lewis Libby and William Luti about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and Saddams Al Qaeda connections.
William Luti oversaw cthe Office of Special Plans in the Pentagon. He was an advisor to Newt Gingrich before working on Cheney's staff, his last stop before the OSP. Gingrich, a member of Donald Rumsfeld's Defense Policy Board has visited the CIA 3 times to reportedly "browbeat" analysts
into making Saddam into a vital threat.
An article in the Washington Post gives a clear view of Gingrich's attitude toward " cooking" intelligence to go along with Bush administration plans for an invasion of Iraq.
"Contrast that vision with a recent classified report by the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research titled 'Iraq, the Middle East and Change: No Dominoes,' which was leaked in March 2003 to the Los Angeles Times. As reported by that newspaper, the document stated that 'liberal democracy would be difficult to achieve [in Iraq]. . . . Electoral democracy, were it to emerge, could well be subject to exploitation by anti-American elements.' " Gingrich goes on to list other Foggy Bottom low points, and concludes: "Can anyone imagine a State Department more out of sync with Bush's views and objectives?"
The State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research produces what sounds like a reality based assessment that doesn't fit Bush's "views and objectives" and it is "out of sync"? Sounds like a guy who would "cook" intelligence to me.
2/05/2004
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2.04.2004
Lies And The Liars That Tell Them; Will a White House Appointed Commission Seek the Truth?
A headline and article that echoes the facts we have attempted to share with you from the smaller circulation non-mainstream press: "Iraq intelligence efforts led by Cheney magnified errors, officials say". This article makes mention of facts I hadn't come across from other sources, that PNAC signer and Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby pressed Colin Powell with intelligence of questionable authenticity prior to the Feb.03 United Nations Security Council speech laying out the U.S. case for an invasion. Reportedly Powell was badgered by this representitive of White House and Pentagon hardliners for war to include bogus information relating a Saddam connection concerning the 911 tragedy.
If you are thinking"But I heard David Kay on the radio- he blamed the intelligence community, clearing Mr Bush". It seems David Kay is enough of a Bush/Republican party supporter that he has contributed over 2000 dollars over the last few years. I gleaned this at Cursor a couple days ago.
I also came across a poll reference there , The Poll question:
"Do you think Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was DIRECTLY involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, or not?"
1/29-30/04 WAS:49% Was Not:39% Don't Know 12%
9/18-19/03 WAS:47% Was Not:37% Don't Know 16%
This is what we are up against, we who are looking for truth in these matters. The truth could help us get an elected and Democratic President, what has been going on in the present Administration far outshadows Watergate in it's scope, spirit and lethality. As sign I saw at The Freeway Blogger sums it up "We're All Wearing the Blue Dress Now".
The scope of the investigation Mr Bush supports sounds like it will go well beyond the scope of what we need to no in this case. He sees it as a look into intelligence across the board dealing with WMD's and their proliferation. We need an inquiry that looks into the lies that got us into pre-emptive war. We need to see the papers Mr Cheney and Mr Rumsfeld utilized that were outside the accepted channels of intelligence. We need to explore how the unprecedented visits of Cheney to the CIA politicized intelligence analysis. How Donald Rumsfeld's "Office of Special Plans" (OSP) created to review "raw" intelligence and the Office of Analysis Near East and South Asia (NESA) under Dougla Feith influenced how intelligence was interpreted- and used. The membership reads like a NeoCon "Who's Who". Largely these people identify with the Israeli right wing Likud Party. This "raw" (read unvetted, undocumented) intelligence was circulated to the press. Perhaps a reason the people of our nation have a skewed view, as the poll results above show, as to the reality of the Iraqi "threat" to the US.
Jim Hoagland in a Washington Post editorial from October 2002 praised the Bush Administration for putting pressure on intelligence analysts to make the case for a Al Qaeda/ Iraq connection. It has been pulled from the WaPo website. Go to the link to see it.
Mr Bush talks of setting up an inquiry panel much like The Warren Commission. I'm sure he does, he needs all the help he can get to keep "We the People" from finding out the truth about his administration.What we need is an inquiry that will seek the truth, we know the Warren Commission was a bunch of crap. As Congressional Leaders have suggested in a letter to Mr Bush, we need and independent commission not made up of White House appointees.
As these White House appointed "Truth Commissions" go see the conflicts of interest and lack of White House cooperation with the 911 Commission. Kurt Nimmo points out a glaring conflict of interest concerning Thomas Kean. If Mr Kean were a man of honor it would seem that he would not have accepted a position on the board of inquiry.
Thomas Kean is a director (and shareholder) of Amerada Hess Corporation, which is involved in the Hess-Delta joint venture with Delta Oil of Saudi Arabia (owned by the bin Mahfouz and Al-Amoudi clans)," notes Michel Chossudovsky. "In other words, Delta Oil Ltd. of Saudi Arabia -- which is a partner in the Hess-Delta Alliance -- is in part controlled by Khalid bin Mafhouz, Osama's brother in law."
Speaking of conflict that could effect the veracity of a "Truth Commission", let's look at some possible members.
There is thought that the commission Bush sets up will include Republican funder David Kay and and PNAC signatory James Woolsey. Ex-CIA head Robert Gates is also thought to be being considered. You may remember he was said to be involved in Iran/Contra and the anti-democratic "October Surprise" that saw the hostages in Iran held until after the Carter/Reagan contest for the Presidency. Bob Kerrey is another possible choice, a man who was party to murdering a whole hamlet in Viet Nam, in what was probably a CIA mission. Richard Kerr, also mentioned for the commision, has already said that the analysts conclusions have been consistent over the years, over-ruling any White House pressure to "cook"analysis.
Not looking too good for truth, commission-wise.
Read the truth about intelligence caveats given to the White House even as they were priming us for the rush to war;
"Neglecting Intelligence, Ignoring Warnings" by The Center for American Progress has what you need to know.
It looks like it is up to us to get the truth into light, to bring it mainstream.
2/04/2004
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2.03.2004
Bush to raise defense spending 7.1%. Nearly double what the PNAC proponents advocate- 3.8%. That is without including 50 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan war efforts, not to mention the others the administration wishes to persue around the world. You'll note that much of this is an indirect subsidy to his buddies in the defence industry. The money earmarked for space will benefit many of the same concerns.
Democrats and some Republicans say Mr Bush is on a spending spree. Senator John Kerry, who leads the polls to be the Democratic presidential candidate, said Mr Bush's budget was "more of the same: record deficits, tax cuts for the wealthy and special interests, and cuts in areas that matter to families, such as health care and education."
2/03/2004
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January held the second highest death toll for US forces in Iraq since the George W Bush "Mission Accomplished" press happening on the USS Lincoln in May, 2003.
This piece from Paul de Rooij bears reading. Here's a teaser quote.
The Bush regime is doing its best to hide the human cost of its recent wars. Publicity of the soldiers? deaths is bad during an election year, and would be bad for the continued justification for the American occupation of Iraq. If they are intent on hiding the casualty figures, then it behooves us to uncover and amplify them.
War is about Death. Force, death and domination. Bottom line. The folks that are selling us the Iraq without the UN occupation need us to forget this basic fact.
It is hard to live without a job in America, Republican policy sees the "Safety Net" shredded, calling for smaller government. Since Mr Bush was appointed 3 million jobs have disappeared. Keep in mind that "free trade" and "globalization" have been readily supported by both parties in our government. "We the People" are a "special interest" group until election time, and even then moneyed interest fill their campaign coffers. Whatever happened to the idea "Buy American" anyway?
Contracting jobs overseas is 'simply the latest manifestation of free trade', a top White House economic aide said in defence of a practice used by American companies.
Since the ending of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Program 375,000 workers will go without any benefit income at all. A new record.
With the ending of the federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program, jobless workers whose regular, state-funded unemployment insurance benefits run out before they can find a job no longer qualify for any federal unemployment aid. An estimated 375,000 unemployed individuals are exhausting their regular unemployment benefits in January without qualifying for any further assistance ? and are receiving neither a paycheck nor unemployment benefits. Based on the latest data, nearly two million unemployed workers are expected to be in this situation during the first six months of 2004. (This analysis also includes state projections for the first half of 2004.)
Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index rose to 63.6 in January a record his since 1983.
The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to post numbers showing a very strong economic recovery," said Lara Rhame, senior economist at Brown Brothers Harriman.
New orders, a key sign of future growth, hovered at the best levels since the early 1970s. But a surge in factory output has yet to translate into jobs, with the employment index slipping to 52.9 from 53.5 in December.
I'll admit I have no idea what those two "index" numbers mean. I just know what I see around me.
What sort of "recovery" is this?
2/03/2004
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Over at Dissident Voice I found an article that touches very powerfully on the pervasive ability of the corporate media to shape political dialogue in our media saturated culture. I won't offer a synopsis of the article but I will mention a couple observations of my own. I spoke with a journalist from the Atlanta-Constitution who was present at the speech where Howard Dean was hooting and hollering to pump up his volunteers after a less than stellar showing in Iowa; he said it was popular consensus that the act was unremarkable, was not given a second thought. Another journalist has said it could hardly be heard over the din of the crowd. Funny that TV media made it a defining moment for him. Remember "The Mighty Wurlitzer"effect. Not policy, but enthusiasm was the crime. Remember when the press made the comment that Al Gore appeared "wooden"? That rather than policy was used to typify his (successful) bid for the votes of the American people for the Presidency.
Another observation is backed up by a link I found at the always excellent Cursor. Why would The New York Times advocate leaving Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton out of further Democratic debates? Could it be that Mr Kucinich has sensible ideas, ideas that resonate with the majority of Americans- and furthermore other candidates are picking up on them? Truly Democratic ideals are dangerous to the Times largest advertisers, such as Mr Kucinich stands on trade laws, and "special interests", stands I heard Mr Dean and Mr Kerry echoing.
Mr Kerry has recieved 225,000 dollars from corporate lobbyists, nearly double that of Howard Dean, who is second in the reaping of lobbyist dollars. Mr Edwards has taken money from people connected to business interests. He has also accepted the use of corporate jets to the tune of 150,000 dollars. Edwards' campaign manager was a registered lobbyist in 2002.
Read the transcript of the South Carolina debate.
Kucinich gives fact and figure based substantive answers, and asks questions that the other candidates shy away from. Sharpton too asks questions that America needs to hear.
KUCINICH: Well, Tom, keep in mind, there's so much talent on this stage that I believe this race is going to go all the way to the convention. And what that means -- no one's going to get 50 percent of the delegates going to the convention. And I expect to be able to pick up delegates, state by state. And I'll arrive at the convention right in the mix for the nomination, and I look forward to it.
And you have to love Reverand Al.
SHARPTON: Well, first of all, I think this is beyond politics. This is about the direction of the party.
I fully expect to win primaries in the coming weeks.
But I'm going to win because I'm speaking the issues and interests of people that have been ignoring.
And:
BROKAW: No, no, I'm talking about the Islamic movement around the world, because it really does transcend nations in many ways.
SHARPTON: But, in many ways, I think that we can't allow the distortion, because Mr. Bush and some of his crowd have said they represent a Christian view against the Islamic. And I don't think Christ could join most of their churches.
I'd also ask you, as you read the transcript to note Mr Brokaw's "attitude". Would he ask questions this way of Mr Bush?
Are the monied elite afraid that the American people might think if they have more than soundbites and rhetoric to base their political analysis on?
You be the judge.
2/03/2004
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2.02.2004
A Different Bush, A Different Dictator- Almost the Same Administration Though: Oil Anti-Democracy Redux
Another Saddam?
Are you familiar with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the dictator of Equatorial Guinea? His family has ruled the country since it became independent of Spain in 1968- the present dictator had the former (elected 1968), his uncle, die before a firing squad in 1979 after a coup saw Obiang Nguema ascend to power.
A US State Department human rights report released early in 2000 paints a picture of a man who rules by intimidation and terror. Extrajudicial killings and "disappearance" along with torture keeps domestic political dissent at bay. There is no press freedom, no religious freedom, no freedom of assembly, no freedom of movement. Arrest is arbitrary and prisoners can be tortured or killed with impunity. Homes can be searched without a warrant and looted. Violence against women and foreigners is a serious problem as is discrimination against minorities. Child and forced prison labor are used. There are no labor unions or workers rights. The report states that "The abuse of workers' rights is a particular problem in the oil industry."
Oil was found offshore in 1995, bringing petrodollars into the nearly collapsing dictatorship. But little wealth trickles down to the subsistence farmers that make up the majority of this nation. There is very little running water, and what there is isn't potable. There is very little electric service. Most of the wealth going into Equatorial Guinea flows into the hands of Teodoro Obiang Nguema family clan, who fill various government posts; but primarily to the dictator himself- and his son.
At least 300 million dollars oil revenue has been deposited in a account the dictator has direct control of - Riggs Bank in Washington D.C. . The money is deposited directly by American oil companies such as Exxon-Mobile and Amerada-Hess. Chevron Texaco is the main US player. The US is the nation's largest investor.
Now if the fact that a murderous anti-democratic dictator can maintain a bank account located on Dupont Circle is a shock and surprise to you you should understand that the US purchases about two-thirds of Equitorial Guinea's petroleum output. It could account for 25% of our imported oil by 2015
Would you be surprised to know that Halliburton has a finger in the pie
Or that Triton Energy, another player has a chairman who's name sounds familiar- Tom Hicks, the vice chairman of Clear Channel Communications who we spoke of a couple days ago. The fellow that bought the Texas Rangers from the Bush group turning Mr Bush's 500,000 dollar investment into 14.9 million dollars. Hicks leveraged buyout firm Hicks Muse is Bush's fourth highest career financial patron. Triton, foundering after being convicted for bribing Indonesian government officials was bought by Amerada Hess.
Open Secrets shows that the oil and gas industry funds primarily Republicans, Equatorial Guinea players ExxonMobil giving 91% to the GOP,Chevron Texaco 85%- 83% of their money went to the Republican party this far in the 2004 election cycle. Triton Energy gave it's campaign contribution solely to the Republicans in 2000, no figures are available for this election cycle.
The Clinton Administration closed the US embassy in Equatorial Guinea in 1995. Even with it's oil reserves the US under President Clinton did not deal with Teodoro Obiang Nguema. The Bush administration looks at the man and the oil he controls differently. At the urging of the oil industry Mr Bush will be opening a new US embassy there, joining Spain France and China. The last US embassador left after being accused of practicing witchcraft on the graves of 10 British airmen who were killed in a crash during WW11. There is talk of a military base in the region. Last July Mr Bush met with 10 West African heads of state, some notorious dictators. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo first was hosted by the present administration in Washington in March of 2001.
Another anti-democratic oil rich dictator with blood on his hands. Another friend of the oil/gas industry. When do you think our servicepeople will be "liberating" Equitorial Guinea?
Resources:
The Center for Public Integrity offers Chapter 5 "The Curious Bonds of Oil Diplomacy" from "Making a Killing: The Business of War"
"U.S. Oil Politics in the 'Kuwait of Africa" By Ken Silverstein is a fast read and really informative.
2/02/2004
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2.01.2004
No Post today. You'll notice new resources in the sidebar though. I hope you find them useful.
2/01/2004
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