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11 reasons why the threat from Al Qaeda is not real

“All governments lie.” You can add to that great quote “and all newspapers lie, too.” -American journalist I. F. Stone. Knowing the truth matters in a democracy because without the truth citizens can’t make informed decisions about government policies that impact their lives. It is not possible to consciously answer fundamental societal questions like “should we go to war?” without a firm grasp of all the facts at hand. When independent journalists fail to provide the simple and straightforward facts to the public, they become complicit in government murder and fraud, and deserve even more ridicule than dishonest government officials and government-owned journalists. 11 Reasons Why The Threat From Al-Qaeda is Not Real Al-Qaeda is either one of these things, or it is a combination of them: a) a completely fake threat; the organization does not exist, b) an organization that exists in small numbers but was created by the CIA to serve a corrupt U.S. foreign policy, and remains a U.S. intelligence asset in the manufactured global war on terrorism, or c) a small organization that exists independently of the U.S. government but its strength and influence in the Middle East is exaggerated by radical policymakers and officials in Washington. Out of all three statements the first and second deserve the most serious attention because they are supported by the evidence listed below. #1. Radical American cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, who was ordered to be assassinated by President Obama, met with top military officials at the Pentagon months after the 9/11 attacks. #2. CIA Director Leon Panetta revealed in June 2010 on ABC’s This Week that there are less than 100 Al-Qaeda members in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. #3. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), one of the world’s leading security think tanks, published a report this year which said that the threat of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is exaggerated by Western policymakers. #4. Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview to the Los Angeles Times’s Patt Morrison in October 2010 that Al-Qaeda doesn’t exist. #5. The U.S. government created, and funded Islamic fundamentalism in the 1980s to be used to draw the Soviet Union into Afghanistan, and bleed it to death in a costly and unwinnable war. #6. Robin Cook, who served as a British MP for 22 years and as Foreign Secretary from 1997 to 2001, wrote an article for the Guardian in July 2005, a month before his death, called “The struggle against terrorism cannot be won by military means.” #7. A BBC article from July 2004 called “Al-Qaeda’s origins and links” reveals that Osama Bin Laden was a CIA agent in the 1980s. #8. J. Michael Springmann, a 20 year foreign service official, and a former Consulate officer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has publicly stated for many years that the CIA brought over Muslim radicals to the United States for secret terrorist training. #9. Germany’s Der Spiegel’s published an article by Siegesmund von Ilsemann called “Arming the Middle East: The Checkered History of American Weapons Deals” in June 2007. The article backed up the reporting done by the BBC, and elsewhere that the United States government “supplied Afghan freedom fighters in the 1980s with money and arms for their struggle against occupying Soviet troops. One of the best customers for the CIA back then was Saudi millionaire Osama Bin Laden.” This account is only half-true. The CIA funded and trained a network of Muslim fighters not to liberate Afghanistan from corrupt Soviet influence, but to create havoc and instigate a Soviet invasion so that it would drain itself of blood and treasure. Once the objective of bringing down the Soviet Union was achieved, the stage was set for the United States and the West to invade Afghanistan and take advantage of the country’s vast resources, from oil to heroin. #10. Selig Harrison, a current member of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, a former senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and an expert on South Asia, said in March 2001 at a conference called “Terrorism and Regional Security: Managing the Challenges in Asia,” that the CIA and Pakistan’s ISI helped create the backward and tyrannical Taliban. #11. The September 11, 2001 attacks, which serve as the basis for America’s wars in the Middle East, were committed by the United States government with assistance from the government of Israel. This is an indisputable fact added by: maasanova

US Government Claims Right to Kill Americans Anytime and Anywhere

(The+Media+Freedom+Foundation)&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher The Obama Administration currently asserts it has the right to kill any American they deem a threat or terrorist without judicial review. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the ALCU currently are challenging this notion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. This lawsuit stems from the killing of Nasser Al-Aulaqi’s son (who was an U.S. citizen) who was targeted and killed by the United States Government. It is interesting to note that according to CCR Staff Attorney Pardiss Kabriaei “The Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the government’s claim to an unchecked system of global detention, and the district court should similarly reject the administration’s claim here to an unchecked system of global targeted killing”. The ACLU and CCR hopes the will court rule the U.S. Government can only kill a U.S. citizen if there is a proof of an imminent threat to life. “If the Constitution means anything, it surely means that the president does not have unreviewable authority to summarily execute any American whom he concludes is an enemy of the state,” said Jameel Jaffer, Deputy Legal Director of the ACLU, who presented arguments in the case. “It’s the government’s responsibility to protect the nation from terrorist attacks, but the courts have a crucial role to play in ensuring that counterterrorism policies are consistent with the Constitution.” Title: Obama Administration Claims Unchecked Authority to Kill Americans Outside Combat Zones Publication: CommonDreams.org, November 8th, 2010 Author: ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights URL: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/11/08-4 Faculty Evaluator: Cynthia Boaz, Sonoma State University Student Researcher: Jason Corbett, Sonoma State University For more information on the case, including fact sheets and legal papers, visit: www.aclu.org/targetedkillings and www.ccrjustice.org/targetedkillings added by: treewolf39

Cameron Crowe Officially Loses His ‘Heart’

Filed under: Cameron Crowe , Nancy Wilson , Celebrity Justice Director Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson from the band Heart are now officially divorced — with one catch. According to documents filed yesterday in L.A. County Superior Court … a judgment was issued in the former couple’s divorce — but it won’t be… Read more

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Cameron Crowe Officially Loses His ‘Heart’

Fashion Face-Off: Brad Pitt vs. Johnny Depp

People has honored them both as the Sexiest Man Alive. Angelina Jolie has kissed each on his lips. Fans across the globe have swooned in their wake… but the fun times are about to come to an end for Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp! These hunks walked the red carpet at last night’s NYC premiere of The Tourist and are matched up below in a THG Fashion Face-Off. After you check out the official promo for this movie, cast your vote in the challenging poll here:

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Fashion Face-Off: Brad Pitt vs. Johnny Depp

Kevin Smith: Virgin America Eats It

Kevin Smith might want to consider alternate forms of transportation. Seriously, you can pimp out your own tour bus and just enjoy the ride, John Madden style. Sure it takes longer, but the director and air travel just don’t mix. Smith, who famously feuded with Southwest after he was kicked off a flight for being too large in February, had issues with Virgin America this time around. BLOWING SMOKE : When it comes to flying, Kevin Smith tends to . Smith says on his blog that he, his wife Jennifer Schwalbach, and their friend Jason Mewes arrived at New York’s JFK airport in plenty of time for a flight. “Boarding started at 11:15, and we arrived at the gate at 11:35 – a full 10 minutes before scheduled departure,” Smith wrote in a blog post on Monday. “But as we reached the gate, we saw a man closing the door … We told him we were on the flight and he told us it was too late; the flight was closed.” “It was 11:36.” Despite having first class seats and a concierge service, officials reportedly told Smith and his party that there was nothing he could do – nor could he take their bags, which included medication Smith’s wife needed, OFF the flight. “They didn’t even TRY to call someone about getting the bags,” he wrote. “The plane sat right at the jetway still attached. Our bags could’ve EASILY been removed in the time the jet remained at the gate (or we could’ve been permitted to board).” Smith said he waited until 10 minutes before departure to board because, “when you fly first, you board first, sit down … and then EVERYONE files past you.” “And when you’re the Too Fat To Fly guy on a plane? Well, everyone stares,” he adds. “Then the whispering starts. A hundred people look right at you.” While Smith ultimately missed his flight – and his child’s first basketball game at school because of the delay – he was rebooked on a later flight. He later received a nice surprise – a “lovely, apologetic email, full refund for flight, free tix offer – all before I’ve landed,” Smith wrote. “I appreciate the gesture/effort.” Virgin America 1, Southwest 0.

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Kevin Smith: Virgin America Eats It

Rufus Wainwright Talks Engagement, Opera At Carnegie Hall Show

Singer confirmed the American debut of his first opera, ‘Prima Donna.’ By Nicole Sia Rufus Wainwright and J

‘The Fighter’ Premiere Is End Of A Journey For Mark Wahlberg

‘It was a struggle and a fight the whole way, and it was well worth it,’ star says By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf Mark Wahlberg arrives at “The Fighter” premiere in Hollywood on Monday Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images “I never thought the movie would see the light of day,” Mark Wahlberg said as the flashbulbs popped all around him outside the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. “It’s incredible.” Well, not only has “The Fighter” seen the light of the day, but it has established itself as a front-runner to nab a slew of Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Wahlberg. He struggled for years to get cameras rolling on this true story of boxing legend Micky Ward and his brother and trainer Dickie, cycling through directors like Darren Aronofsky and co-stars such as Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. The picture hit one roadblock after another, but Walhberg kept training, no matter how difficult it was. “Just getting up at four in the morning, not knowing if the movie was going to happen or not,” Wahlberg told MTV News about the most challenging aspect of making the film. “Continuing to train when the movie fell apart, when one of my co-stars backed out.” Christian Bale eventually replaced Damon as Dickie and David O. Russell hopped into the director’s chair. But for Wahlberg, that fight to make the movie mirrored his character’s real-life struggle to transform himself from underdog to championship contender. “It was a commitment I made to Micky and Dickie and the rest of the family and to myself that we were going to get this movie made, and it was well worth the fight,” he explained. “The journey of making the movie was very much like Micky’s journey. It was a struggle and a fight the whole way, and it was well worth it. The end result is fantastic.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Fighter.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos ‘The Fighter’ Knocks Out Hollywood

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‘The Fighter’ Premiere Is End Of A Journey For Mark Wahlberg

Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp Premiere ‘The Tourist’ In New York City

‘I thought it was a challenge for me to be a girl, a real girly girl,’ Jolie said on the red carpet. By Jocelyn Vena Angelina Jolie at “The Tourist” premiere Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp warmed up the red carpet outside the Ziegfeld Theater in chilly New York City Monday night for the premiere of their sexy new flick, “The Tourist.” The duo was joined by co-star Paul Bettany, as well as Jolie’s hunky beau, Brad Pitt, and Bettany’s wife, actress Jennifer Connolly. “It was wonderful,” Jolie, dressed in a creamy Atelier Versace gown, gushed to reporters about working with Depp on the flick. “He’s as wonderful as you expect him to be. He feels like he’s of a different decade. He’s extraordinarily creative and extraordinarily kind. There’s no one else like him.” Jolie said that she was also drawn to the project by her character’s feminine wiles as well as the opportunity to work with Depp. “I liked that she was a real lady, a real European lady, and I’ve never played that before. I thought it was a challenge for me to be a girl, a real girly girl,” she said. “Living in Italy for a few months was pretty hard to resist. And I’ve been dying to work with [the director] Florian [Henckel von Donnersmarck] and I’ve always wanted to work with Johnny and never met him, so it was a great. Everything was great about this project.” The movie’s director was equally charmed by his leading actors and likened the premiere’s madness to the kind he experienced shooting the film abroad. “Well, now you can imagine what it was like every single day,” he laughed to MTV News. “And we had about 30,000 [people] standing behind the barricades whenever we tried to do an intimate scene, so it was quite adventurous.” He added that working with the two stars was pure joy. “It’s exciting,” he explained. “There’s a reason why we’re all so fascinated with these people. It’s because they are so fascinating and they’re fun, very creative people. … Actually, I think they’re not too far from what they are onscreen in this film. … Johnny is as funny and as cool as he is onscreen in real life. I’d say there’s very little difference. … He’s everybody’s idol. “And Angelina’s the same way,” he continued. “She’s just so elegant and feminine and just exciting … it was quite an experience working with them.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Tourist.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘The Tourist’ Related Photos ‘The Tourist’ Premiere In NYC

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Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp Premiere ‘The Tourist’ In New York City

Roman Polanski Reaps Big Rewards At European Film Awards

If there’s one thing Europe loves even more than a charismatic dictator, it’s a convicted sex offender on the lam. Yes, Roman Polanski’s Ghost Writer was the big winner at the European Film Awards last night, nabbing the statue for Best Director, Best Actor (for Ewan McGregor), Best Screenplay and Best Picture, among other accolades. But even though I mock, truth be told, The Ghost Writer is an excellent movie and it’s a bit of shame that it didn’t make a bigger impact over here. A full list of the winners after the break.[ Deadline ]

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Roman Polanski Reaps Big Rewards At European Film Awards

Another Week, Another Angelina Pivarnick Fight

Angelina Pivarnick, a.k.a. the annoying girl who bailed on both seasons of Jersey Shore so far and calls herself the Kim Kardashian of Staten Island, got in a fight. We know. Stunning news right there. The irony is that she was supposed to get into a fight – boxing style – last night, but the dustup we’re reporting was not that altercation. It happened before. Go away . Angeliner was tossed out of a New Jersey nightclub before she even got to throw down in a celebrity boxing bout against Kerry Schwartz in Atlantic City, N.J. She got into it with an unidentified chick at the Taj Mahal before she ever stepped in the ring, and was questioned by cops, but not arrested as a result. Her lawyer insists that “Angelina is innocent of any allegations.” Except that her “I’m Hot” single is the best/worst song ever. She’s guilty in the best way there.

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Another Week, Another Angelina Pivarnick Fight