Tag Archives: country

President John F Kennedy To Brack Obama Reguarding Wikileaks

Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. — Benjamin Franklin The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home. – James Madison The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders…tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. – Herman Goering I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually. – James Baldwin Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. – Voltaire The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly be propagated. – William Ellery Channing “if there be one principle more deeply written than any other in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.” — Thomas Jefferson Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government. – Sen. Robert Taft, (R) Ohio Fascism will come wrapped in a flag and carrying a Bible. ~ Sinclair Lewis 1935 “patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.” – Samuel Johnson “If the American people ever allow the banks to control issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers occupied.” -Thomas Jefferson “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ~ George Orwell added by: toyotabedzrock

Why Wikileaks is not the Enemy

By David P Shirk Over the news there has been much debate on the legal and moral ramifications caused by the whistleblowers and the companies like wiki-leaks that disseminated the information from them. Yet just like most things political, the idea behind it is overlooked. The nay-sayers on the issue who believe that wikileakes should be prosecuted as a terrorist organization, and that people like Bradley Manning should be held for treason (or at the very least for breaking his confidentiality agreement), do so on the grounds that it is necessary to maintain national security. Those like Holder typically acknowledge the fact that not only does the government lie and spin stories to obtain a certain response, but then take advantage of the ensuing actions. These lies and spin stories are kept secret from the American people on the grounds that it would damage our national security. Yet do lies and spin stories make a nation secure? I would think 9-11 proved the answer is no. I would think that making our entire nation appear to be made of lying cheaters would also indicate no. So why do they do it? In a nation where it is believed that the government only acts within the interest of the people paints the real picture though. For the most part, Americans elect their leaders using the best knowledge they have to decide what policy is best for our country. So if the truth is buried out of sight from the eye of the people, how on earth can they make an intelligent vote? They can’t. All they can do is act on the knowledge they are given or is available. This makes it very clear that the government either believes that Americans are to stupid to handle the truth, or that they will maintain their power and control over the people at all costs. In the first case we are looked at as nothing amore than fools, and in the second, as nothing more than subjects under their guidance. Either way it is not conducive to the ideals of liberty, freedom, or prosperity. Quite the opposite in fact. If government is indeed elected by the people, then keeping them in the dark as to the reality of any policy the government takes only ensures that two types of people will get elected. Those who seek to control others, and those whose ignorance appeals to the people. Both depend on a dependency of the people on the government to keep them informed as to the actions the government takes. When the government is not truthful or honest with its people, then the cycle can only continue. So it is of no surprise at all that wikileaks and other whistleblowers are being hounded by the government. Take Manning for example. He saw something that he knew damn well was not right. He knew that those in charge would not do anything about it as they were the ones enacting the evils. So he appealed to the only audience he thought would do the right thing – the American people. Surely the killing of unarmed children and civilians would set them into a frenzy to do something. Yet nothing did, and how sick is that? People judge Manning as a traitor and wikileaks as a terrorist organization because that’s what the news and government tells them to think. This is not only the height of the abuse of power, but a clear picture as to why the American people need to wise up. It is also most disturbing that they would make such charges against people who try to do the right thing, while at the same time, ignoring the blatant fact that those who they trust with their security and defense are killing, lying, torturing, and manipulating not only foreign markets but their governments as well. Then they dare call Manning a traitor and wikileaks the terrorists! People often criticize the Nazi’s for allowing Hitler into power and commit atrocities and spreading propaganda – sure would be nice if they held their own government as responsible for such things as oppose to supporting it. http://www.peacefreedomprosperity.com/?p=3800 added by: shanklinmike

McCain presses for accountability in WikiLeaks breach

Really?? What about the accountability of the former president and his staff?? What about the accountability of the US and the thousands they have killed over a bullshit war?? What about the accountability of our government and the LACK OF SUPPORT FOR IT'S PEOPLE AND THE MONEY THEY KEEP WASTING??? They already bailed out the banks, when are they going to bail out the PEOPLE THAT PAY THEIR SALARIES??? More and more I find our country lacking moral judgement and the balls to question, accuse and attack others, but not take responsibility of it's actions!! When is someone going to? or are we (people who protest) so called “terrorist”/ “traitors” for not accepting the bullshit that's going on in this country??? ************************************************************** and by the way, here's the news article… =D http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/02/mccain.wikileaks/ Washington (CNN) — A senior Republican senator pressed Pentagon leadership Thursday as to why nobody — other than a very junior soldier — has been held responsible for the leak of thousands of secret national security documents to WikiLeaks. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, called the WikiLeaks episode “an incredible breach of national security.” In a tense exchange, McCain asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates whether the Pentagon has identified or punished anyone else. “Have you held anyone responsible?” McCain asked. “Not yet,” replied Gates, who earlier said the criminal investigation limits the Defense Department's ability to conduct an independent investigation. So far a single low-ranking U.S. soldier, Pfc. Bradley Manning, is the only person charged and held in custody in connection with the leaks. Later McCain grilled other Pentagon officials, who were testifying with Gates before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the ban on gays and lesbians serving opening in the military. McCain appeared obviously frustrated. “It's been since July,” McCain said with a dismissive wave of his hand, referring to the first WikiLeaks release of Defense Department documents. “Can't you carry out an investigation at the same time that the criminal investigation is going on?” McCain asked Joint Chiefs Chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen. “Yes, sir, in certain kinds of incidents that's certainly possible,” Mullen answered. “At least, maybe, to hold someone responsible for this besides a private first class,” McCain said. Mullen said everything necessary must be done to prevent another breach of secure documents, stopping short of directly endorsing McCain's call for punitive action against WikiLeaks organizers such as travel bans, asset freezes and other sanctions. “In my world, when I've got men and women in harm's way and they are now exposed because of this, I think we as a country should do all we can to make sure it can't happen again,” Mullen said. The political frustration was bipartisan. Following a closed-door hearing of the Senate's intelligence committee on WikiLeaks' latest release, the group's outgoing chairwoman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, said that not enough is being done to protect critical government information. “This qualifies as espionage,” the California Democrat said as she left the hearing. “[The release] incapacitates this nation to carry out business… This is far beyond free speech.” On Thursday, Sens. John Ensign (R-Nevada), Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) and Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) proposed legislation to make it easier for federal authorities to go after WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, and others behind leaks of confidential U.S. documents. “What Wikileaks has done amounts to espionage in a most serious form,” said Lieberman. “It's probably the most terrible act and greatest act of espionage against the United States in our history.” Meanwhile, the U.S. government also continued its verbal assault on Assange. “He could be considered a political actor. I think he's an anarchist, but he's not a journalist,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said at his daily briefing. “Mr. Assange obviously has a particular political objective behind his activities and I think that, among other things, disqualifies him from the possibility of being considered a journalist.” Wikileaks often is referred to as a “whistle-blower” organization but the State Department spokesman shot that down, too. “He's not a journalist, he's not a whistle-blower,” Crowley said. “He is a political actor; he has a political agenda.” more at the link… added by: KSirys

WaPo Promotes Media Matters War on Fox, Including Charge They’ll Cause the Next OKC Bombing

On the front page of Friday's Style section in the Washington Post is a story on professional Fox News haters . “Outfoxed by Fox News? No way. Liberal group Media Matters relentlessly, obsessively fights conservative network.” The standout paragraph is when media reporter Paul Farhi allows MMFA leader David Brock blame Fox for the next Oklahoma City bombing: “Every sponsor of every Fox show should be put on notice that this insanity is being underwritten by [advertisers],” Brock says. He adds: “If Beck isn't stopped, I think we'll have another Oklahoma City [bombing] in this country.” The Post thought this was worthy enough to highlight in a pull quote — but not the reckless, mudslinging second half. The other bizarre and unproven piece of the story is suggesting liberal Maryland Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (now heading a Democrat ad group with Brock) is somehow a “centrist” that proves Media Matters isn't too liberal: read more

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WaPo Promotes Media Matters War on Fox, Including Charge They’ll Cause the Next OKC Bombing

Israel forest fire: at least 40 dead in one of country’s worst disasters

At least 40 people were killed and dozen were injured as the deadliest forest fire in Israel's history swept through the north of the country. link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8177281/Israel-forest-fire-at-least-40-dead-in-one-of-countrys-worst-disasters.html added by: Kristena

New York Times/Wikileaks: Afghanistan Corruption Is ‘Overwhelming’

WASHINGTON — From hundreds of diplomatic cables, Afghanistan emerges as a looking-glass land where bribery, extortion and embezzlement are the norm and the honest man is a distinct outlier. Describing the likely lineup of Afghanistan’s new cabinet last January, the American Embassy noted that the agriculture minister, Asif Rahimi, “appears to be the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist.” One Afghan official helpfully explained to diplomats the “four stages” at which his colleagues skimmed money from American development projects: “When contractors bid on a project, at application for building permits, during construction, and at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.” In a seeming victory against corruption, Abdul Ahad Sahibi, the mayor of Kabul, received a four-year prison sentence last year for “massive embezzlement.” But a cable from the embassy told a very different story: Mr. Sahibi was a victim of “kangaroo court justice,” it said, in what appeared to be retribution for his attempt to halt a corrupt land-distribution scheme. It is hardly news that predatory corruption, fueled by a booming illicit narcotics industry, is rampant at every level of Afghan society. Transparency International, an advocacy organization that tracks government corruption around the globe, ranks Afghanistan as the world’s third most corrupt country, behind Somalia and Myanmar. But the collection of confidential diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and made available to a number of publications, offers a fresh sense of its pervasive nature, its overwhelming scale, and the dispiriting challenge it poses to American officials who have made shoring up support for the Afghan government a cornerstone of America’s counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. Story continues here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/world/asia/03wikileaks-corruption.html?_r=1&am… http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/12/03/world/03corruption-web1/03corrupt… added by: ThatCrazyLibertarian

Nigeria To Charge Dick Cheney In $180 Million Bribery Case, Issue Interpol Arrest Warrant

The energy services company Dick Cheney ran prior to becoming Vice President of the United States was atop the tongue of liberals each time it was awarded a contract in Iraq. Now the company's name, Halliburton, is being spoken somewhere else: Nigeria. According to a story filed late Wednesday( http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-01/nigeria-to-charge-dick-cheney-in-pip… ), Cheney will be indicted in a Nigerian bribery case as part of an investigation into an alleged $180 million bribery scandal. “Last week, Nigeria arrested at least 23 officials from companies including Halliburton, Saipem, Technip and a former subsidiary of Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG in connection with alleged illegal payments to Nigerian officials. Those detained were all freed on bail on Nov. 29,” Bloomberg News' Elisha Bala-Gbogbo wrote. “Authorities in the West African nation are probing Halliburton, Saipem and Technip for the alleged payment of $180 million in bribes to win a $6 billion liquefied natural-gas contract,” Bala-Gbogbo added. “Panalpina is being investigated for illegal payments it allegedly made to Nigerian customs officials on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.” The prosecuting counsel for the country's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said that indictments will be handed down in the next three days and that an arrest warrant for Cheney “will be issued and transmitted through Interpol.” Adds Bloomberg, “Obla said charges will be filed against current and former chief executive officers of Halliburton, including Cheney, who was CEO from 1995 to 2000, and its former unit KBR Inc., based in Houston, Texas; Technip SA, Europe’s second-largest oilfield- services provider; Eni SpA, Italy’s biggest oil company; and Saipem Construction Co., a unit of Eni. Obla didn’t identify the former officials whom he said held office when the alleged bribes were paid.” A spokesman for Cheney declined to comment. The US Securities and Exchange Committee probe focused on the deal as early as 2004. Wrote The Washington Post at the time: ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35486-2004Jun11.html ) The Nigerian project, started in the early 1990s, was worth almost $5 billion to TSKJ, a partnership that included a KBR predecessor, as well as companies from France, Japan and the Netherlands. At issue are payments made to Tristar, a Gibraltar company that had a consulting arrangement with a corporation formed by TSKJ to “administer the contracts and execute the work” in Nigeria, a Halliburton spokeswoman said in response to questions. KBR, the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton, was formed when Halliburton acquired Dresser Industries Inc. in 1998. It was a combination of Halliburton's Brown & Root and Dresser's M.W. Kellogg Co. Officials from the SEC and Cheney's office declined to comment. Early on Thursday, Halliburton said( http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f= /g/a/2010/12/02/bloomberg1376-LCSK1K6TTDS801-2FON5J2K50U6QS8ACM9RA159SE.DTL#ixzz16xiDvrD6) they hadn't seen the new charges, but still denied their involvement. “Halliburton's oil-field services operations in Nigeria have never in any way been part of the LNG project and none of the Halliburton employees have ever had any connection to or participation in that project,” Tara Mullee Agard, a spokeswoman for the Houston-based company, said in an e-mailed response to Bloomberg. Added Bloomberg: “Halliburton Co., the world's second- largest oilfield-services provider, said it hasn't seen any amended charges by Nigerian authorities who plan to indict current and former employees in a bribery scandal.” added by: toyotabedzrock

Ron Paul: US “Counterfeit Machine” Will Lead To Political, Social Chaos

Congressman, analysts warn that deficit must be reduced now or globalist sharks will tear America to pieces. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, active member of the Committee on Financial Services, appeared on MSNBC today and issued a stark warning to viewers regarding the continuing debt crisis: reduce the deficit now or face mass political and social chaos. The Congressman began by acknowledging that the country is waking up to the fact that continued spending and an increasing deficit is unsustainable, but noted that this awakening has come “out of desperation” and there is still a long way to go before solutions can be put into place. The Congressman told Morning Joe that he is “heartened” to see that the Debt Commission is considering his proposal to cut military spending. However, Paul noted that he remains unconvinced, stating that there is a “need to change the policy, you can’t quit one weapons system and think that’s a solution if you still want to be policemen of the world.” While making it clear that he does not see welfare spending as a long term solution, the Congressman suggested taking $10 billion that is earmarked for building more foreign embassies and bases and putting half of it into medical or unemployment benefits “to tide us over”, while using the remaining $5 billion “against the deficit.” Earlier this week, the Congressman emphasized in a commentary piece that Congress should refuse to raise the debt ceiling, a vote that will likely take place early next year, noting that it would act as a litmus test for the new Republican controlled House. Paul wrote that “You will know that Congress, despite the rhetoric of the midterm elections, is doing business as usual.” if they vote to raise the debt ceiling. The Congressman elaborated on this issue in today’s interview. “If the Fed couldn’t monetize debt and the debt limit couldn’t be increased, [Congress] would say oh my goodness, we’re going to have to change policies, maybe we shouldn’t be the policemen of the world, maybe we shouldn’t be the endless welfare state, and it will come to an end.” The Congressman said. “And when it ends with the dollar crisis, everybody loses… then there’s political chaos. We’re not immune to that. This idea that we won’t suffer the same consequences of other nations…right now we bail out everybody!..But it all depends on trust in the dollar.” he added. “One day people will wake up and say ‘why are we trusting this counterfeit machine.’ We’re the biggest counterfeit machine in the history of the world.” MSNBC’s Jim Cramer re-emphasized the Congressman’s points by noting that if something is not done now to reduce the deficit, the consequences could be irreversible. “This is too close, this is not thirty or forty years if we don’t do something, this is ten years. It’s way too close and we have got to reach some agreement.” Cramer said. “IMF comes here if we don’t do this deficit reduction.” Cramer added. “The IMF is really pretty powerful, and you don’t want them in your country. But that’s who comes in when you can’t pay your debts.” the analyst warned. Ron Paul added that he has spent a long time warning that we are dumping huge amounts of debt on our children and our grandchildren, but “I don’ t think that’s true anymore, it’s here, we’re in the midst of the crisis.” http://www.prisonplanet.com/ron-paul-us-counterfeit-machine-will-lead-to-politic… added by: im1mjrpain

Grammy Awards 2011: Full List of Nominations

In a sign of changing times, and of a changing Eminem, his 10 nominations for the 2011 Grammy Awards were not controversial, but predictable and respected. The rapper is nominated for album of the year along with nine honors, leading the entire music industry. Bruno Mars earned an impressive seven nods. Other top nominees included Lady Antebellum, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga, who were all nominated for six. Lady Gaga also was nominated for album of the year. Country trio Lady Antebellum was rewarded for its huge crossover successes, earning nominations for album of the year, record of the year and song of the year. Justin Bieber, astoundingly, is up for Best New Artist. “It feels amazing. I can’t believe I’m in this position. Thank you,” he said. “I don’t know what to say.” Other nominees for record of the year included Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ anthem for NYC, “Empire State of Mind.” But not everyone got the love they expected. Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” was a huge hit but shut out of the record and song of the year (Katy’s Teenage Dream was nominated for album of the year). The evening’s biggest snub may belong to Ke$ha. The party girl singer had a top-selling debut and several hits, but was not nominated for any awards. On the flip side, she cannot sing, so you can sort of see it. Anyway, follow the jump for the full list of nominees for the 2011 Grammy Awards … GENERAL Album Of The Year The Suburbs — Arcade Fire Recovery — Eminem Need You Now — Lady Antebellum The Fame Monster — Lady Gaga Teenage Dream — Katy Perry Record Of The Year “Nothin’ On You” — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars “Love The Way You Lie” — Eminem Featuring Rihanna “…. You” — Cee Lo Green “Empire State Of Mind” — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys “Need You Now” — Lady Antebellum Best New Artist Justin Bieber Drake Florence & The Machine Mumford & Sons Esperanza Spalding Song Of The Year “Beg Steal Or Borrow” — Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs) “… You” — Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green) “The House That Built Me” –Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert) “Love The Way You Lie” — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna) “Need You Now” — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum) POP Best Female Pop Vocal Performance “King Of Anything” — Sara Bareilles “Halo (Live)” — Beyonc

VIDEO: Learn the New Rules of Fight Club in the Bollywood Remake Teaser

Good news! You can now talk about Fight Club to your heart’s content. The bad news? It gets a little more complicated after that. This teaser for the Bollywood remake of David Fincher’s ode to mid-life nihilism lays out five new rules for members, and while some are totally rational (You now need a valid reason for a fight.), others just left me confused. I’m particularly intrigued by number three which is known only as “The Left Hand Rule.” The character talking about it does hold up his left hand, but otherwise I’m completely baffled. And does rule number one for this film negate the left hand rule anyway? Check all of them out and weigh in on the practicality and fairness of The Left Hand Rule after the jump.

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VIDEO: Learn the New Rules of Fight Club in the Bollywood Remake Teaser